Cellular crosstalk of macrophages and neutrophils

Focal recruitment of neutrophils (red) to glomeruli (blue) 

Blood vessels in the urinary bladder

Neutrophils (red) and Macrophages (green) communicate to phagocytose Debris

Spatial distribution of Neutrophils (red) and Macrophages (green) in the inflamed skin

Cellular crosstalk of macrophages and neutrophils

Neutrophils are continuously generated within the bone marrow by myeloid precursors and their half-life is limited to a few hours. Their main function is to patrol vessels and vigilantly seeking out for indications of an incipient inflammation. Recruitment of neutrophils is induced by stimuli, such as chemokines, leukotrienes and formyl peptides. Interstitial migration seems to be facilitated by integrins, actin polymerisation, chemokine receptors, TREM-1 expression and Matrix Metalloproteinases. Once recruited from the bloodstream, neutrophils cross the dense macrophage network and acquire essential properties for optimal anti-microbial defence. Our aim in to understand neutrophil migration under inflammatory conditions.

Research focus

Monocytes, Macrophages and neutrophils play an important role in host defense against invading micro-organisms. The tremendous migratory and functional capabilities of these innate leukocytes are crucial in initiating inflammatory processes, but also for maintaining organ homeostasis. However, the mechanisms that regulate the migration and function of these cells are incompletely understood. Our aim is to unravel the mechanisms that regulate the migration, the function and the cellular crosstalk between these innate immune cells. These findings are important to develop novel and selective targeting strategies to regulate immune responses.