An overview of the role of neutrophils in innate immunity, inflammation and host-biomaterial integration.
Despite considerable recent progress in defining neutrophil functions and behaviors in tissue repair, much remains to be determined with regards to its overall role in the tissue integration of biomaterials. This article provides an overview of the neutrophil's numerous, important roles in both inflammation and resolution, and subsequently, their role in biomaterial integration. Neutrophils function in three primary capacities: generation of oxidative bursts, release of granules and formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs); these combined functions enable neutrophil involvement in inflammation, macrophage recruitment, M2 macrophage differentiation, resolution of inflammation, angiogenesis, tumor formation and immune system activation. Neutrophils exhibit great flexibility to adjust to the prevalent microenvironmental conditions in the tissue; thus, the biomaterial composition and fabrication will potentially influence neutrophil behavior following confrontation. This review serves to highlight the neutrophil's plasticity, reiterating that neutrophils are not just simple suicidal killers, but the true maestros of resolution and regeneration.
Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, USA.
Gretchen S
GS
Selders
Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, USA.
Allison E
AE
Fetz
Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry, University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC), Memphis, TN, USA, 858 Madison Ave, Room 201 Molecular Science Building, Memphis, TN 38163, USA.
Marko Z
MZ
Radic
Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN, USA.
Gary L
GL
Bowlin
NETosis; host response; inflammation; neutrophil; tissue engineering; tissue regeneration