About this Research Topic
Neutrophils are the most abundant leukocyte in the circulation. They are key immune cells essential for protecting against pathogens and are rapidly recruited upon infection or injury. Distinct neutrophil phenotypes have been shown to play different and even opposing roles. For instance, neutrophils have shown to be involved in tissue healing and repair upon injury; however, in certain conditions they can also cause significant immunopathology, tissue damage and impair wound healing. The beneficial and detrimental contributions of neutrophils can be direct or indirect. For example, neutrophils can secrete key cytokines necessary for angiogenesis and tissue restoration, but they can also release pro-inflammatory cytokines, reactive oxygen species, neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), and cytotoxic granular contents. The understanding of their heterogeneity in specific conditions has allowed us to gain key insights as to the role neutrophils play in achieving and maintaining host homeostasis.
The majority of research studies of neutrophils focus on their role in host defense against microbial insults. However, there is growing interest in defining the role of neutrophils in tissue homeostasis, including their beneficial role in tissue repair and healing and their detrimental role in tissue damage. In general, neutrophils have been considered a homogenous cell type, however, this perception has been changing over recent years and multiple phenotypes associated with different functionalities have been identified both in homeostatic and disease conditions via direct and/or indirect effects (cell-mediated and/or humoral). Neutrophils can regulate and modulate the phenotype and activity of other cell types that can also impact resolution of injuries or inflammation, including monocytes, macrophages, T cells, etc. This topic collection is focused on the study of specific neutrophil phenotypes and specific mechanisms by which neutrophils contribute to tissue healing or damage.
In this Research Topic, therefore, we welcome the submission of Original Research and Review articles that cover, but are not limited to, the following sub-topics:
• Direct and indirect role of neutrophils in healing sterile and non-sterile injuries.
• Neutrophil functions in angiogenesis and tissue restoration.
• Neutrophil-mediated tissue damage in sepsis, acute lung injury, and acute respiratory distress syndrome.
• Inflammatory contribution of neutrophils in autoimmune diseases.
• Neutrophil extracellular trap-induced tissue damage.
• Contribution of neutrophils in the regulation and modulation of other cell types during healing or inflammation.
• Neutrophil biomaterial interaction: Understanding and Regulation.
The majority of research studies of neutrophils focus on their role in host defense against microbial insults. However, there is growing interest in defining the role of neutrophils in tissue homeostasis, including their beneficial role in tissue repair and healing and their detrimental role in tissue damage. In general, neutrophils have been considered a homogenous cell type, however, this perception has been changing over recent years and multiple phenotypes associated with different functionalities have been identified both in homeostatic and disease conditions via direct and/or indirect effects (cell-mediated and/or humoral). Neutrophils can regulate and modulate the phenotype and activity of other cell types that can also impact resolution of injuries or inflammation, including monocytes, macrophages, T cells, etc. This topic collection is focused on the study of specific neutrophil phenotypes and specific mechanisms by which neutrophils contribute to tissue healing or damage.
In this Research Topic, therefore, we welcome the submission of Original Research and Review articles that cover, but are not limited to, the following sub-topics:
• Direct and indirect role of neutrophils in healing sterile and non-sterile injuries.
• Neutrophil functions in angiogenesis and tissue restoration.
• Neutrophil-mediated tissue damage in sepsis, acute lung injury, and acute respiratory distress syndrome.
• Inflammatory contribution of neutrophils in autoimmune diseases.
• Neutrophil extracellular trap-induced tissue damage.
• Contribution of neutrophils in the regulation and modulation of other cell types during healing or inflammation.
• Neutrophil biomaterial interaction: Understanding and Regulation.
Keywords: Neutrophils, neutrophil extracellular traps, reactive oxygen species, pathogenesis, homeostasis, tissue repair, angiogenesis, tissue damage, inflammation
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
