Neutrophil-derived Oxidants and Proteinases as Immunomodulatory Mediators in Inflammation

[摘要] Neutrophils generate potent microbicidal molecules via theoxygen-dependent pathway, leading to the generation of reactiveoxygen intermediates (ROI), and via the non-oxygen dependent pathway,consisting in the release of serine proteinases andmetalloproteinases stored in granules. Over the past years, theconcept has emerged that both ROI and proteinases can be viewed asmediators able to modulate neutrophil responses as well as the wholeinflammatory process. This is well illustrated by the oxidativeregulation of proteinase activity showing that oxidants andproteinases acts is concert to optimize the microbicidal activityand to damage host tissues. ROI and proteinases can modify theactivity of several proteins involved in the control of inflammatoryprocess. Among them, tumour necrosis factor-α andinterleukin-8, are elective targets for such a modulation. Moreover,ROI and proteinases are also able to modulate the adhesion processof neutrophils to endothelial cells, which is a critical step in theinflammatory process.

[学科分类] 生理学与病理学