Life of neutrophil: From stem cell to neutrophil extracellular trap

Neutrophils are one of the main types of effector cells in the innate immune system. Neutrophils play a major role in fighting diseases and are recruited almost immediately to sites of infection. The neutrophils have a variety of defensive mechanisms and their high affinity to chemotactic agents makes them ideal in the defense against pathogens. New functions of neutrophils have been discovered over the years. The latest role of neutrophils is neutrophil traps, which are a new component of innate anti-microbial immunity. Before neutrophils can effectively kill microorganisms they undergo a series of complex developmental processes.

► Neutrophils play a prominent role in the innate immunity.
► Neutrophil extracellular traps efficiently kill bacteria.
► Reactive oxygen species are crucial for neutrophil extracellular trap formation.