Question

Why do some white blood cells have multi-lobed nuclei? What is the use of multi-lobes? What are they?

Answer 1

I don't have an answer for this - I just think some nuclei have the 'structure that they need', though why they might need blobs rather than circles is actually a fascinating question.

GOOD QUESTION!

I have a source of more information/research for you: http://jcs.biologists.org/content/122/10/1477.full

Answer 2

thanks:) reading the info on the site. it seems interesting!

Answer 3

Try this one, too: http://www.springerlink.com/content/t104706241610r7x/

As mentioned, great question.

Answer 4

Who-boy, that's dense (also from 2009, so you may be able to find more recent research on the subject), but I think this section relates directly to your original question about WBCs:

"Nuclear shape

The nuclei of most cells are either round or oval. This, in itself, is hardly remarkable except for the fact that various diseases, as well as aging, are associated with alterations in nuclear shape (Fig. 3). Moreover, in certain specialized cell types, altered nuclear shape is important for cell function. But what determines nuclear shape, and how does shape affect function? In many cell types, altered nuclear shape is due to changes in the nuclear lamina. In some cases, however, the shape of the nucleus is altered by forces that act from the cytoplasm. In either case, it is still not entirely clear how nuclear shape affects function, although two main hypotheses exist. The first hypothesis posits that changes in nuclear shape alter the rigidity of the nucleus; this could be beneficial for cells that need to squeeze through tight spaces, but deleterious to cells that are under mechanical duress. The second hypothesis proposes that changes in nuclear shape result in chromatin reorganization and thereby affect gene expression. It is important to note that these two hypotheses are not mutually exclusive. In addition, because nuclear shape changes are often accompanied by an altered nuclear lamina, it is possible that the dramatic effect on cell function is due to aberrant properties of the lamina rather than nuclear shape changes per se. In this section, we examine some of the cell types and conditions that are associated with irregular nuclear shape, and we discuss, when known, the causes of these shape changes and how they affect cell function.
Normal cells with abnormal nuclei

Of all the cell types that normally exhibit unusual nuclear shape, neutrophils have been studied the most thoroughly. Neutrophils are cells of the immune system that migrate through tissue towards sites of infection. They are characterized by their multi-lobed nuclei, typically exhibiting three or four lobes that are connected by thin DNA-containing filaments (Fig. 3B) (reviewed by Hoffmann et al., 2007). Neutrophils with hypolobulated nuclei are associated with Pelger-Huet anomaly, caused by a mutation in the lamin B receptor (Hoffmann et al., 2002). Hypolobulated neutrophils have deficiencies in various cellular functions, including the ability to migrate through small openings. This suggests that nuclear lobulation is an adaptation to fit cell function (Hoffmann et al., 2007)."

My immediate thought on reading this is to wonder what the hypothesis about basophils would be -- their nucleus is large and round, but they also circulate in blood (however, neutrophils are famous for their rapid tissue migration to sites of injury, so their powers of 'squeezing into tiny spaces' MAY be the 'small spaces' they're referring to here, rather than movement through tiny capillaries).

I'm curious what you find - if you don't mind, post it here so we can all learn!

Answer 5

@kma230 No open access to that article, sorry. If you have access, could you attach it?

Answer 6

@clstal Great answer; unfortunately, I don't either :x sorry!