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The Role of Neutrophils in the Immune System: An Overview

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Neutrophil

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 2087))

Abstract

Neutrophils, also known as polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs), have long been considered as the short-lived, nonspecific white cells that form pus—and also happen to kill invading microbes. Indeed, neutrophils were often neglected (and largely not considered) as immune cells. This historic view of neutrophils has changed considerably over the past several decades, and we now know that in addition to playing the predominant role in the clearance of bacteria and fungi, they have a major role in shaping the host response to infection and immune system homeostasis. The change in our view of the role of neutrophils in the immune system has been due in large part to the study of these cells in vitro. Such work has been made possible by new and/or improved methods and approaches used to investigate neutrophils. These methods are the focus of this volume.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA

    Harry L. Malech

  2. Laboratory of Bacteriology, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, USA

    Frank R. DeLeo

  3. Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA

    Mark T. Quinn

Authors
  1. Harry L. Malech
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  2. Frank R. DeLeo
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  3. Mark T. Quinn
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mark T. Quinn .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, USA

    Mark T. Quinn

  2. Laboratory of Bacteriology, Rocky Mountain Laboratories Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Hamilton, MT, USA

    Frank R. DeLeo

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Malech, H.L., DeLeo, F.R., Quinn, M.T. (2020). The Role of Neutrophils in the Immune System: An Overview. In: Quinn, M., DeLeo, F. (eds) Neutrophil. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 2087. Humana, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-0154-9_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-0154-9_1

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  • Publisher Name: Humana, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-0716-0153-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-0716-0154-9

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