Neutrophil activity in sepsis: a systematic review

Area of Science:

• Immunology
• Infectious Diseases
• Critical Care Medicine

Background:

• Neutrophils are key immune cells for host defense against pathogens.
• Dysregulated neutrophil activity is implicated in the pathogenesis of sepsis.
• Understanding neutrophil function in sepsis is critical for therapeutic development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review recent scientific findings on neutrophil activity in sepsis.
• To analyze clinical and experimental research published between 2007 and 2017.
• To identify knowledge gaps in neutrophil function during sepsis.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search of PubMed and Virtual Health Library (BVS).
• Inclusion of articles in Portuguese, English, and Spanish from January 2007 to May 2017.
• Independent article selection and analysis by two reviewers.

Main Results:

• 19 studies met inclusion criteria from an initial 233 articles.
• Neutrophils in sepsis models exhibit reduced migration and delayed apoptosis.
• Phagocytic activity consensus was not reached; diagnostic markers like PTX3 showed limited correlation with neutrophil function.

Conclusions:

• Neutrophil migration and apoptosis are significantly affected in sepsis.
• The precise role of neutrophil phagocytosis in sepsis remains unclear.
• Further research is essential to elucidate neutrophil behavior in sepsis for targeted treatment strategies.