Chinese Journal of Nature ›› 2019, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (5): 370-375.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.0253-9608.2019.05.008

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Neutrophils: A double-edged sword in the inflammatory response

LIANG Xinyue, ZHANG Yunyun, YAN Jianshe   

  1. School of Life Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
  • Received:2019-05-15 Online:2019-10-25 Published:2019-11-07

Abstract: Neutrophils, the most abundant white blood cells in human blood circulation, play a critical element of the innate immune response that forms the first line of defense against invading pathogens. However, their unregulated activation leads to inflammatory iseases such as arthritis, colitis, and sepsis. Here we first summarize the generation of neutrophils and themolecular mechanisms
that recruit neutrophils toward the sites of infection, and then update with mechanism showing neutrophils track down and destroy
pathogens. In this mini review, we will also discuss the examples of human diseases caused by unregulated neutrophils, and the
biomarkers of neutrophils and their potential therapeutic significance in diseases.