From the Research
Polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) play a crucial role in the immune system, exhibiting both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory properties, and their dysfunction can lead to severe consequences, including sepsis and autoimmune diseases, as evident from a recent study published in 2021 1. The study found that PMNs from patients with fulminant sepsis were characterized by a dysfunctional hyper-activation, altered metabolism, and recent exit from the cell cycle, highlighting the importance of understanding PMN biology in the context of sepsis and other inflammatory conditions. Some key points to consider when evaluating the role of PMNs in human health and disease include:
- Their ability to produce cytokines and chemokines, which can modulate the immune response and contribute to inflammation or anti-inflammation, as discussed in a 2022 review 2
- The release of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), which can play a role in the clearance of pathogens, but also contribute to tissue damage and immunothrombotic dysregulation, as highlighted in a 2021 review 3
- The potential for PMNs to interact with other immune and non-immune cells, including T lymphocytes, to modulate the immune response and contribute to disease pathogenesis, as discussed in a 2009 review 4
- The importance of considering the molecular basis for the paradoxical activities of PMNs, including their role in pro-inflammation/anti-inflammation, antibacteria/autoimmunity, pro-cancer/anticancer, and antiviral infection/COVID-19-induced immunothrombotic dysregulation, as reviewed in 2022 2 Overall, the most recent and highest quality study suggests that PMNs play a complex and multifaceted role in human health and disease, and further research is needed to fully understand their biology and develop effective therapeutic strategies to modulate their activity in various disease contexts 1.