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Updated: Mar 12, 2026
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Author Spotlight: Understanding Disease Mechanisms Through Real-Time Analysis of T-Cell Migration
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Neutrophil Migration: Using All the Tricks of Mesenchymal and Amoeboid Cells to Navigate Many Environments
Martina Lerche1,2, Clare M Waterman1
1Cell and Developmental Biology Center, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA watermancm@nhlbi.nih.gov martina.lerche@manchester.ac.uk.
Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Biology
|March 10, 2026
Summary
Neutrophils, a key part of the innate immune system, are exceptional migrators crucial for defense. This review discusses their cellular properties and signaling pathways enabling efficient migration through tissues.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
- Biophysics
Background:
- Neutrophils are vital innate immune cells, constituting over half of circulating leukocytes.
- They act as the first line of defense against pathogens.
- Effective migration is essential for neutrophils to reach sites of infection or injury.
Purpose of the Study:
- To discuss the cellular properties of neutrophils that facilitate their exceptional migratory capabilities.
- To explore the signaling pathways that guide neutrophil migration in various physiological contexts.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on neutrophil migration.
- Analysis of cellular mechanisms underlying neutrophil motility.
- Discussion of signaling pathways involved in chemotaxis and tissue transmigration.
Main Results:
- Neutrophils exhibit unique cellular properties enabling efficient migration through diverse tissues.
- They utilize combined amoeboid and mesenchymal migration strategies.
- Specific signaling pathways are critical for directing neutrophil movement.
Conclusions:
- Neutrophil migration is a complex process involving specialized cellular attributes and intricate signaling networks.
- Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for comprehending immune responses and developing therapeutic strategies.
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