Regulated cell death in neutrophils: From apoptosis to NETosis and pyroptosis

Léonie Dejas; Karin Santoni; Etienne Meunier; Mohamed Lamkanfi

doi:10.1016/j.smim.2023.101849

Regulated cell death in neutrophils: From apoptosis to NETosis and pyroptosis

Semin Immunol. 2023 Nov:70:101849. doi: 10.1016/j.smim.2023.101849. Epub 2023 Nov 6.

Authors

Léonie Dejas¹, Karin Santoni², Etienne Meunier², Mohamed Lamkanfi³

Affiliations

¹ Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Ghent University, Ghent B-9000, Belgium.
² Institute of Pharmacology and Structural Biology, University of Toulouse, CNRS, Toulouse 31400, France.
³ Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Ghent University, Ghent B-9000, Belgium. Electronic address: mohamed.lamkanfi@ugent.be.

Abstract

Neutrophils are among the most abundant immune cells, representing about 50%- 70% of all circulating leukocytes in humans. Neutrophils rapidly infiltrate inflamed tissues and play an essential role in host defense against infections. They exert microbicidal activity through a variety of specialized effector mechanisms, including phagocytosis, production of reactive oxygen species, degranulation and release of secretory vesicles containing broad-spectrum antimicrobial factors. In addition to their homeostatic turnover by apoptosis, recent studies have revealed the mechanisms by which neutrophils undergo various forms of regulated cell death. In this review, we will discuss the different modes of regulated cell death that have been described in neutrophils, with a particular emphasis on the current understanding of neutrophil pyroptosis and its role in infections and autoinflammation.

Keywords: Apoptosis; Cell death; Infection; Inflammation; Netosis; Neutrophil; Pyroptosis.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Apoptosis / physiology
Humans
Neutrophils*
Phagocytosis / physiology
Pyroptosis*