Which type of cells demonstrate increased uptake during inflammation and infection?

Neutrophils are the primary type of white blood cells that respond quickly to sites of infection and inflammation. During these processes, neutrophils migrate to the affected area to engulf pathogens, debris, and dead cells. This process is accompanied by increased metabolic activity, which leads to an elevated uptake of radiotracers used in PET imaging, specifically those that reflect increased glucose metabolism.

In conditions of inflammation and infection, the body's immune response is activated, resulting in the recruitment of neutrophils. These cells have a high rate of glycolysis to support their functions, including phagocytosis and the production of inflammatory mediators. The increased metabolic activity makes neutrophils particularly notable for enhanced tracer uptake on PET scans, thereby allowing clinicians to visualize areas of infection or inflammation.

Other types of cells, such as lymphocytes, fibroblasts, and basophils, do play roles in immune responses, but they typically do not display the same level of acute metabolic activity or uptick in radiotracer uptake as neutrophils do during the early stages of inflammation or infection. This characteristic helps distinguish neutrophils as the correct choice in the context of this question.