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Updated: May 13, 2026

A Set of Screening Techniques for a Quick Overview of the Neutrophil Function
Published on: February 9, 2024
Pharmacological approaches to regulate neutrophil activity
G R Tintinger1, R Anderson, C Feldman
1Medical Research Council Unit for Inflammation and Immunity, Department of Immunology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0001, South Africa. grtintinger@gmail.com
Neutrophil over-activation causes tissue damage and resists corticosteroids. New therapies targeting neutrophil inflammation, including novel agents and monoclonal antibodies, are being explored for better control.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Inflammation Biology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Neutrophils are crucial for host defense but can cause tissue damage when over-activated.
- Neutrophil over-reactivity, common in airway inflammation, is often resistant to corticosteroids.
- Neutrophils release damaging substances and undergo NETosis, contributing to inflammation and drug resistance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current and emerging strategies for controlling neutrophilic inflammation.
- To highlight the limitations of conventional therapies like corticosteroids.
- To discuss novel therapeutic targets and agents for neutrophilic inflammation.
Main Methods:
- Review of scientific literature on neutrophil function and inflammation.
- Analysis of existing and novel therapeutic approaches.
- Discussion of mechanisms underlying neutrophil resistance to therapy.
Main Results:
- Neutrophil hyperactivation leads to tissue damage, organ dysfunction, and carcinogenesis.
- Neutrophils exhibit resistance to conventional anti-inflammatory drugs.
- Novel strategies include macrolides, cAMP-elevating agents, HDAC activators, chemokine receptor antagonists, and monoclonal antibodies.
Conclusions:
- Neutrophil-targeted therapies are essential due to the limitations of corticosteroids.
- Emerging treatments offer promising alternatives for managing neutrophilic inflammation.
- Further research into these novel strategies is warranted for clinical application.
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