Neutrophil swarming: Is a good offense the best defense?

Luke Brown; Bryan G Yipp

doi:10.1016/j.isci.2023.107655

Neutrophil swarming: Is a good offense the best defense?

iScience. 2023 Aug 17;26(9):107655. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107655. eCollection 2023 Sep 15.

Authors

Luke Brown^{1

2}, Bryan G Yipp^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Calvin, Phoebe and Joan Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.
² Department of Critical Care Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada.

Abstract

The phenomenon of swarming has long been observed in nature as a strategic event that serves as a good offense toward prey and predators. Imaging studies have uncovered that neutrophils employ this swarm-like tactic within infected and inflamed tissues as part of the innate immune response. Much of our understanding of neutrophil swarming builds from observations during sterile inflammation and various bacterial, fungal, and parasitic infections of the skin. However, the architecture and function of the skin differ significantly from vital organs where highly specialized microenvironments carry out critical functions. Therefore, the detrimental extent this perturbation may have on organ function remains unclear. In this review, we examine organ-specific swarming within the skin, liver, and lungs, with a detailed focus on swarming within microvascular environments. In addition, we examine potential "swarmulants" that initiate both transient and persistent swarms that have been implicated in disease.

Keywords: Immunology.

Publication types

Review