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

Léonie Dejas1, Karin Santoni2, Etienne Meunier2

  • 1Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Ghent University, Ghent B-9000, Belgium.

Seminars in Immunology
|November 8, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Neutrophils, key immune cells, combat infections via specialized mechanisms. This review explores their regulated cell death, focusing on pyroptosis in infections and autoinflammation.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Neutrophils are abundant leukocytes crucial for host defense against pathogens.
  • They employ diverse microbicidal mechanisms like phagocytosis and reactive oxygen species production.
  • Neutrophils undergo programmed cell death, including apoptosis and novel regulated cell death (RCD) pathways.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the different modes of regulated cell death in neutrophils.
  • To highlight the current understanding of neutrophil pyroptosis.
  • To discuss the role of pyroptosis in infectious and autoinflammatory diseases.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent studies on neutrophil cell death.
  • Analysis of mechanisms underlying neutrophil pyroptosis.
  • Examination of pyroptosis involvement in disease pathogenesis.

Main Results:

  • Neutrophils exhibit various RCD pathways beyond apoptosis.
  • Pyroptosis is a key inflammatory RCD pathway in neutrophils.
  • Dysregulated pyroptosis contributes to autoinflammatory conditions and infection severity.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding neutrophil RCD, particularly pyroptosis, is vital for developing new therapeutic strategies.
  • Targeting neutrophil pyroptosis may offer novel treatments for infections and autoinflammation.
Keywords:
ApoptosisCell deathInfectionInflammationNetosisNeutrophilPyroptosis

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