Specific granules are secretory vesicles found exclusively in cells of the immune system called granulocytes.
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It is sometimes described as applying specifically to neutrophils, and sometimes the term is applied to other types of cells.
These granules store a mixture of cytotoxic molecules, including many enzymes and antimicrobial peptides, that are released by a process called degranulation following activation of the granulocyte by an immune stimulus.
Specific granules are also known as "secondary granules."
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Examples of cytotoxic molecule stored by specific granules in different granulocytes include:
Clinical significance
A specific granule deficiency can be associated with CEBPE.
References
Specific granule Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA