Advances in Leukocyte Biology

Dear Colleagues,

The immune system balances between homeostasis and inflammation, conditions associated with health and disease. For this, every organ and every cell of the body is adapted to perform one or more certain basic body functions. These regulatory mechanisms limit the entry of pathogens and limit immune reactivity against self and foreign antigens. White blood cells, also called leukocytes, are very important components of these orchestrated immune responses. Neutrophils are the largest subpopulation of human leukocytes (about 60% of human white blood cells), representing the innate immune system's first line of defense against a wide range of microorganisms. Neutrophils contribute to immunity by their unique antimicrobial ability, including phagocytosis and the secretion of hydrolytic enzymes, the formation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, and the release of antimicrobial proteins and peptides. In addition to phagocytosis, living neutrophils create a network of cytonemes to capture microorganisms, whereas dying neutrophils form neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) equipped with bactericides from neutrophil granules adsorbed on DNA strands. Neutrophils, the main fraction of myeloid leukocytes is seen in the early stages of acute inflammation and play an important role in the innate immune response. Lymphocytes are presented by T and B cells, i.e., two major components of adaptive immunity and natural killer cells. Natural killer cells play central role in the antiviral response. B cells contribute to immunity by secreting antibodies and also promote the activation of T cells. T cells play a central role in adaptive immunity; these T cell responses are adapted to their respective cognate antigen and show a high degree of heterogeneity. T cells are essential for suppressing inflammatory immune responses. Our knowledge of the multifaceted functions of leukocytes in normal and pathological conditions is rapidly expanding. Recent biomedical research has shown that the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a useful prognostic marker in many diseases, including COVID-19. Addressing this and other key questions in leukocyte biology will provide a deeper understanding of the role of leukocytes in immunity, which will help develop effective therapeutic strategies.

Prof. Dr. Galina F. Sud’ina
Prof. Dr. Mihnea Zdrenghea
Collection Editor

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