Neutrophil Plasticity in Airway Disease : Balancing Damage and Repair
(2026) In Journal of Innate Immunity p.16-34- Abstract
Abstract – Background: Neutrophils, previously viewed as short-lived microbial killers, are now recognized as highly adaptable regulators of innate immunity. Advances in transcriptomic, metabolic, and epigenetic profiling reveal their remarkable heterogeneity and ability to adopt microenvironment-specific phenotypes. In the lung, this plasticity gives neutrophils a double role: they fight infection but can also cause long-lasting inflammation, tissue damage, and scarring. Summary: We review how neutrophils are activated, move, and act in lung disease, focusing on their release of proteases, production of reactive oxygen species, and formation of extracellular traps. We also describe repair-promoting neutrophil types and treatments that... (More)
Abstract – Background: Neutrophils, previously viewed as short-lived microbial killers, are now recognized as highly adaptable regulators of innate immunity. Advances in transcriptomic, metabolic, and epigenetic profiling reveal their remarkable heterogeneity and ability to adopt microenvironment-specific phenotypes. In the lung, this plasticity gives neutrophils a double role: they fight infection but can also cause long-lasting inflammation, tissue damage, and scarring. Summary: We review how neutrophils are activated, move, and act in lung disease, focusing on their release of proteases, production of reactive oxygen species, and formation of extracellular traps. We also describe repair-promoting neutrophil types and treatments that aim to reduce damage while keeping normal neutrophil defense intact. Key Messages: Learning how neutrophils change within the lung microenvironment will help create better and more precise treatments for lung inflammation and tissue damage.
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- author
- Janciauskiene, Sabina M. LU ; Chorostowska-Wynimko, Joanna ; Olejnicka, Beata LU and Wrenger, Sabine
- organization
- publishing date
- 2026
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- epub
- subject
- keywords
- Inflammation, Injury, Innate immunity, Lung diseases, Neutrophil plasticity
- in
- Journal of Innate Immunity
- pages
- 19 pages
- publisher
- Karger
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:105026442462
- pmid:41321010
- ISSN
- 1662-811X
- DOI
- 10.1159/000549824
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- additional info
- Publisher Copyright: © 2025 S. Karger AG, Basel
- id
- 4a879483-1fbc-4d68-9b78-ed59bbff186b
- date added to LUP
- 2026-03-23 11:15:33
- date last changed
- 2026-04-06 11:38:39
@article{4a879483-1fbc-4d68-9b78-ed59bbff186b,
abstract = {{<p>Abstract – Background: Neutrophils, previously viewed as short-lived microbial killers, are now recognized as highly adaptable regulators of innate immunity. Advances in transcriptomic, metabolic, and epigenetic profiling reveal their remarkable heterogeneity and ability to adopt microenvironment-specific phenotypes. In the lung, this plasticity gives neutrophils a double role: they fight infection but can also cause long-lasting inflammation, tissue damage, and scarring. Summary: We review how neutrophils are activated, move, and act in lung disease, focusing on their release of proteases, production of reactive oxygen species, and formation of extracellular traps. We also describe repair-promoting neutrophil types and treatments that aim to reduce damage while keeping normal neutrophil defense intact. Key Messages: Learning how neutrophils change within the lung microenvironment will help create better and more precise treatments for lung inflammation and tissue damage.</p>}},
author = {{Janciauskiene, Sabina M. and Chorostowska-Wynimko, Joanna and Olejnicka, Beata and Wrenger, Sabine}},
issn = {{1662-811X}},
keywords = {{Inflammation; Injury; Innate immunity; Lung diseases; Neutrophil plasticity}},
language = {{eng}},
pages = {{16--34}},
publisher = {{Karger}},
series = {{Journal of Innate Immunity}},
title = {{Neutrophil Plasticity in Airway Disease : Balancing Damage and Repair}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1159/000549824}},
doi = {{10.1159/000549824}},
year = {{2026}},
}