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The Role of Neutrophils in the Immune System: An Overview

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Book cover Neutrophil Methods and Protocols

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1124))

Abstract

Neutrophils, also known as polymorphonuclear leukocytes (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 know now that, in addition to playing the predominant role in the clearance of bacteria and fungi, they play 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 Host Defenses, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA

    Harry L. Malech

  2. Laboratory of Human Bacterial Pathogenesis, Rocky Mountain Laboratories, 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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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Montana State University Dept. Veterinary Molecular Biology, Bozeman, Montana, USA

    Mark T. Quinn

  2. Lab. Human Bacterial Pathogenesis, National Institutes of Health Nat. Inst. Allergy & Infectious Diseases, Hamilton, Montana, USA

    Frank R. DeLeo

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Malech, H.L., DeLeo, F.R., Quinn, M.T. (2014). The Role of Neutrophils in the Immune System: An Overview. In: Quinn, M., DeLeo, F. (eds) Neutrophil Methods and Protocols. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1124. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-62703-845-4_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-62703-845-4_1

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-62703-844-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-62703-845-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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