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Updated: Jul 18, 2026

Development and Identification of a Novel Subpopulation of Human Neutrophil-derived Giant Phagocytes In Vitro
Published on: January 25, 2017
Autophagic-like cell death in neutrophils induced by autoantibodies
Stephan von Gunten1, Hans-Uwe Simon
1Department of Pharmacology, University of Bern, Friedbühlstrasse 49, CH-3010 Bern, Switzerland.
Abstract:
Human neutrophils undergo autophagic-like cell death following Sialic acid binding immunoglobulin-like lectin-9 (Siglec-9) ligation and concurrent stimulation with certain, but not all, neutrophil survival cytokines. Caspase inhibition by these cytokines is required, but is not sufficient, to trigger this particular form of cell death. Additional mechanisms may involve reactive oxygen species (ROS), and blocking of ROS or prevention of ROS production prevents autophagic-like neutrophil death. Interestingly, human intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) preparations contain natural anti-Siglec-9 autoantibodies, which are able to ligate Siglec-9 on neutrophils and induce autophagic-like cell death in the presence of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and some other survival cytokines. Here, we discuss the pathophysiological and therapeutic implications of these recent findings.
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