Cited by 1,356Neutrophil, Myeloperoxidase and Oxidative MechanismsInflammation biomarkers and pathwaysBlood disorders and treatments

The multifaceted functions of neutrophils

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Mayadas, Tanya N., Cullere, Xavier, Lowell, Clifford A.·2014·Annual Review of Pathology: Mechanisms of Disease

Abstract

Neutrophils and neutrophil-like cells are the major pathogen-fighting immune cells in organisms ranging from slime molds to mammals. Central to their function is their ability to be recruited to sites of infection, to recognize and phagocytose microbes, and then to kill pathogens through a combination of cytotoxic mechanisms. These include the production of reactive oxygen species, the release of antimicrobial peptides, and the recently discovered expulsion of their nuclear contents to form neutrophil extracellular traps. Here we discuss these primordial neutrophil functions, which also play key roles in tissue injury, by providing details of neutrophil cytotoxic functions and congenital disorders of neutrophils. In addition, we present more recent evidence that interactions between neutrophils and adaptive immune cells establish a feed-forward mechanism that amplifies pathologic inflammation. These newly appreciated contributions of neutrophils are described in the setting of several inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.

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Crossref · 10.1146/annurev-pathol-020712-164023

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  • Neutrophils act as the first-line of defense via secretion of inflammatory substances such as cytokines that damage cellular DNA through phagocytic and apoptotic effects.

    “Neutrophils act as the first-line of defense via secretion of various inflammatory substances, for example, cytokines which damage the cellular DNA through phagocytic and apoptotic effect.[18]”

    From Comparison of NLR (neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio) and PLR (platelet/lymphocyte ratio) as inflammatory markers in 1st episode mania and bipolar mania: A preliminary study (2023) · cites this paper as [18]

    The Abstract describes neutrophils as major pathogen-fighting cells, and “Pathogen Killing by Neutrophils” describes phagocytosis and the release of antimicrobial and oxidative products that can injure other cells. But these passages do not say that secreted cytokines damage cellular DNA through phagocytic and apoptotic effects; the section instead discusses apoptosis as a form of neutrophil cell death. (LLM, conf=0.88)

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Authors
Mayadas, T. N., Cullere, X., & Lowell, C. A.
Affiliations
  • Brigham and Women's Hospital (US)
  • Center for Excellence in Vascular Biology, Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 20115;
  • University of California, San Francisco (US)
Venue
Annual Review of Pathology: Mechanisms of Disease
Published
2014-01-24
Volume
9
Issue
1
Pages
181-218
ISSN
  • 1553-4006 (ISSN-L)
  • 1553-4014
OpenAlex
W2110299641
Cited by
1,356
References
272
Citations by year
2026: 76 · 2025: 132 · 2024: 149 · 2023: 117 · 2022: 137 · 2021: 146 · 2020: 144 · 2019: 115 · 2018: 87 · 2017: 92 · 2016: 78 · 2015: 53 · 2014: 27 · 2013: 1
FWCI
4.62
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Annual Review of Pathology Mechanisms of Disease (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (HL065095, HL036028, P01HL036028, R01HL065095)
  • National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (AI068150, AI078869, R01AI068150, AI 065495, P01AI078869, R01AI065495)
  • National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (AR054984, AR 050800, R01AR050800, K01AR054984)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › Neutrophil, Myeloperoxidase and Oxidative Mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › Inflammation biomarkers and pathways
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Blood disorders and treatments
Keywords
neutrophils, neutrophil-like cells, phagocytosis, reactive oxygen species, antimicrobial peptides, neutrophil extracellular traps, neutrophil cytotoxicity, tissue damage, inflammation, autoimmune disease, innate immunity
MeSH terms
Animals, Extracellular Matrix, Homeostasis, Humans, Infections, Inflammation, Neutrophils, Phagocytosis, Reactive Oxygen Species, Neutrophil Activation, Neutrophil Infiltration, Adaptive Immunity

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