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Detecting Migration and Infiltration of Neutrophils in Mice
Published on: February 6, 2020
Immune cell migration in inflammation: present and future therapeutic targets
Andrew D Luster1, Ronen Alon, Ulrich H von Andrian
1Center for Immunology and Inflammatory Diseases, Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA. luster.andrew@mgh.harvard.edu
Nature Immunology
|December 22, 2005
Summary
Understanding leukocyte trafficking is key for treating diseases. New strategies aim to block harmful inflammation without compromising essential immune cell functions for protective immunity.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
- Clinical Medicine
Background:
- Leukocyte trafficking, the movement of immune cells, is crucial for both disease pathogenesis and protective immunity.
- Specific molecular signals (trafficking signals) regulate immune cell migration into and out of tissues.
- Dysregulated leukocyte accumulation in tissues is a hallmark of various diseases, offering therapeutic targets.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the dual role of leukocyte trafficking in disease and protective immunity.
- To identify novel therapeutic targets within leukocyte trafficking pathways.
- To develop strategies for selective inhibition of disease-driving immune cell migration.
Main Methods:
- Defining molecular codes that control immune cell subset migration.
- Investigating tissue-specific inflammation and its inhibition.
- Evaluating the impact of targeting leukocyte migration on protective immune responses.
Main Results:
- Identification of specific trafficking signals that control distinct immune cell subsets.
- Confirmation of clinical efficacy for targeting tissue-specific inflammation.
- Highlighting the critical need to balance anti-inflammatory targeting with preservation of protective immunity.
Conclusions:
- Leukocyte trafficking offers promising clinical opportunities for treating inflammatory diseases.
- Future research must focus on precise targeting of disease-associated leukocyte subsets.
- Therapeutic strategies should aim to inhibit detrimental inflammation while preserving essential immune cell functions for host defense.
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