The Neutrophil Nucleus and Its Role in Neutrophilic Function

Abstract

The cell nucleus plays a key role in differentiation processes in eukaryotic cells. It is not the nucleus in particular, but the organization of the genes and their remodeling that provides the data for the adjustments to be made according to the medium. The neutrophil nucleus has a different morphology. It is a multi-lobed nucleus where some researchers argue no longer function. However, studies indicate that it is very probable the occurrence of chromatin remodeling during activation steps. It may be that the human neutrophil nucleus also contributes to the mobility of neutrophils through thin tissue spaces. Questions like these will be discussed in this small review. The topics include morphology of human neutrophil nucleus, maturation process and modifications of the neutrophil nucleus, neutrophil activation and chromatin modifications, causes and consequences of multi-lobulated segmented morphology, and importance of the nucleus in the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs).

Phenol-Soluble Modulin α Peptide Toxins from Aggressive Staphylococcus aureus Induce Rapid Formation of Neutrophil Extracellular Traps through a Reactive Oxygen Species-Independent Pathway

“…Neutrophils have a very distinct nuclear morphology; it is segmented into three to four lobes and has been shown to be very malleable, a feature thought to promote fast and easy transmigration over the vessel walls (47). It is interesting to speculate that this or some other unique feature of the peculiar neutrophil nucleus (48) allows for DNA to be discharged after disintegration of the plasma and/or nuclear membranes.…”

Nuclear organization during in vitro differentiation of porcine mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into adipocytes

“…In MSCs, they were larger and more spherical, while in adipocytes, an ellipsoid shape was observed. The occurrence of changes in the nuclear shape during differentiation and maturation is a well-known phenomenon (Skinner and Johnson 2017), with extreme examples concern lobulated nuclei in neutrophils (Carvalho et al 2015) or elongated nuclei in spermatids (Lin et al 2016). This suggests that changes in the nuclear shape and structure during cell specialization are related to the function and phenotype of the cell (Dahl et al 2008).…”

High performance mass spectrometry based proteomics reveals enzyme and signaling pathway regulation in neutrophils during the early stage of surgical trauma

“…Increase in PMN priming has been noticed after RBC transfusions in injured patients [10,11] due to generation and storage of platelet-activating factor (PAF) and PAFlike phospholipids, including lyso-phosphatidyl (lyso-PCs) in RBCs that also delay PMN apoptosis [12]. Studies have shown a decrease in the chemotactic response of neutrophils in trauma patients, due to changes in potent chemoattractants [13,14].…”