Selective abnormalities of azurophil and specific granules of human neutrophilic leukocytes.

Human neutrophilic granulocytes (PMN) contain two chemically distinct granule types, which appear at different stages of maturation. The azurophilic granule (or primary granule) is formed during the promyelocyte stage and is known to contain myeloperoxidase in addition to numerous lysosomal enzymes, neutral proteases, glycoaminoglycans, cationic bactericidal proteins, and lysozyme. The specific granule (or secondary granule) is formed during the myelocyte stage. It is defined by the absence of peroxidase and has been shown to contain lysozyme, lactoferrin, and B12-binding proteins. The mature PMN contains both types of granules: 33% azurophilic and 67% specific granules. There are now a few well-documented examples of pathological PMN granulations that can be classified as a selective abnormality of one granule type or the other.