Work

Mechanisms of Neutrophil Accumulation in the Lungs Against Bacteria

Year: 2009

Type: review

Abstract: Bacterial lung diseases are a major cause of morbidity and mortality both in immunocompromised and in immunocompetent individuals. Neutrophil accumulation, a pathological hallmark of bacterial diseases, is critical to host defense, but may also cause acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome. Toll-like receptors, nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptors, transcription factors, cytokines, and chemokines play essential roles in neutrophil sequestration in the lungs. This review highlights our current understanding of the role of these molecules in the lungs during bacterial infection and their therapeutic potential. We also discuss emerging data on cholesterol and ethanol as environmentally modifiable factors that may impact neutrophil-mediated pulmonary innate host defense. Understanding the precise molecular mechanisms leading to neutrophil influx in the lungs during bacterial infection is critical for the development of more effective therapeutic and prophylactic strategies to control the excessive host response to infection.

Source: American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology

DOI: 10.1165/rcmb.2009-0047tr

Authors: Gayathriy Balamayooran, Sanjay Batra, Michael B. Fessler, Kyle I. Happel, Samithamby Jeyaseelan

Institutions: Louisiana State University, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans

Language: English

Topic: Neutrophil, Myeloperoxidase and Oxidative Mechanisms

Subfield: Immunology

Field: Immunology and Microbiology

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green