What cells are first responders in acute inflammation after tissue injury?

Prepare for the Tissue Injury, Healing, and Pain Test. Utilize flashcards and multiple-choice questions with hints and explanations. Ensure you're ready for the exam!

In acute inflammation, neutrophils are the first responders. They’re the fastest white blood cells to reach the injured tissue, arriving within minutes to hours after injury. Neutrophils circulate in the blood and are drawn to the site by chemotactic signals released during tissue damage and infection (like IL-8, C5a, and leukotriene B4). They migrate through the vessel wall via margination, rolling, adhesion, and diapedesis, then accumulate at the site to perform rapid phagocytosis of microbes and debris and to release antimicrobial substances. Their short lifespan means they dominate early stages of inflammation and are often followed by macrophages that clean up debris and coordinate repair. Lymphocytes are more associated with chronic inflammation and adaptive immunity, while erythrocytes are red blood cells and do not participate as inflammatory mediators.