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Neutrophils Are Atypical Antigen-Presenting Cells

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Abstract

Neutrophils are the most numerous blood leukocytes and are the “first line” of defense against pathogens in the focus of inflammation, where they perform effector functions of phagocytosis, degranulation, generation of reactive oxygen species, and the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps. It was believed for a long time that neutrophils are short-lived terminally differentiated phagocytes. However, this view changed after it was discovered that neutrophils are able to interact with other populations of leukocytes as well as being responsible for the relationship between innate and adaptive immunity. A lot of data indicating the ability of neutrophils to acquire the function of antigen-presenting cells in pathological and inflammatory conditions has accumulated in recent years. In addition, neutrophils can express major histocompatibility complex class II molecules and costimulatory molecules when exposed to specific cytokines in the in vitro system and activate T lymphocytes. The review summarizes recent data on the antigen-presenting function of neutrophils, the proposed mechanisms of regulation of this process, and its significance in normal and pathological conditions.

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Funding

The work was supported by the project “Molecular and Cellular Bases of Immunity” (no. 21-1-21, CITIS no. 121042600047-9) and the Interdisciplinary Scientific and Educational School of Moscow University “Molecular Technologies of the Living Systems and Synthetic Biology.”

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  1. Department of Immunology, Biological Faculty, Moscow State University, 119234, Moscow, Russia

    N.V. Vorobjeva

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The study was conducted without the use of animals and without involving people as subjects.

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Translated by M. Shulskaya

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Vorobjeva, N. Neutrophils Are Atypical Antigen-Presenting Cells. Moscow Univ. Biol.Sci. Bull. 78, 45–52 (2023). https://doi.org/10.3103/S0096392523020104

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