title: Neutrophils in animal models of autoimmune disease.
abstract: Neutrophils have traditionally been thought to play only a peripheral role in the genesis of many autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. However, recent studies in a variety of animal models suggest that these cells are central to the initiation and propagation of autoimmunity. The use of mouse models, which allow either deletion of neutrophils or the targeting of specific neutrophil functions, has revealed the many complex ways these cells contribute to autoimmune/inflammatory processes. This includes generation of self antigens through the process of NETosis, regulation of T-cell and dendritic cell activation, production of cytokines such as BAFF that stimulate self-reactive B-cells, as well as indirect effects on epithelial cell stability. In comparing the many different autoimmune models in which neutrophils have been examined, a number of common underlying themes emerge - such as a role for neutrophils in stimulating vascular permeability in arthritis, encephalitis and colitis. The use of animal models has also stimulated the development of new therapeutics that target neutrophil functions, such as NETosis, that may prove beneficial in human disease. This review will summarize neutrophil contributions in a number of murine autoimmune/inflammatory disease models.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Semmelweis University School of Medicine, 1094 Budapest, Hungary; MTA-SE "Lendület" Inflammation Physiology Research Group of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and Semmelweis University, 1094 Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Tamás
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Németh
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Semmelweis University School of Medicine, 1094 Budapest, Hungary; MTA-SE "Lendület" Inflammation Physiology Research Group of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and Semmelweis University, 1094 Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Attila
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mócsai
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA. Electronic address: clifford.lowell@ucsf.edu.
authors.forename: Clifford A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Lowell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015551:Autoimmunity; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D065206:Extracellular Traps / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D056747:Immunomodulation; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D016207:Cytokines; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species
keywords: Autoimmunity; Cytokines; Immune complexes; Inflammation; NETosis; Neutrophils