Abstract
Low-density granulocytes (LDGs), a distinct subset of neutrophils that colocalize with peripheral blood mononuclear cells after density gradient centrifugation, have been observed in many immune-mediated diseases. LDGs are considered highly proinflammatory because of enhanced spontaneous formation of neutrophil extracellular traps, endothelial toxicity, and cytokine production. Concomitantly, increased numbers of LDGs are associated with the severity of many immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. Recent studies, with the help of advanced transcriptomic technologies, demonstrated that LDGs were a mixed cell population composed of immature subset and mature subset, and these two subsets showed different pathogenic features. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on the composition, origin, and pathogenic properties of LDGs in several immune-mediated inflammatory diseases and discuss potential medical interventions targeting LDGs.
Highlights
Neutrophils are key players in the innate immune system, and they are one of the first responders against infectious agents and other pathogenic assaults [1, 2]
We explored the gene expression profiles in peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) from patients with generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) and found a marked enrichment of differentially expressed genes related to neutrophil functions, implicating the presence of Low-density granulocytes (LDGs) in GPP PBMCs [44]
The elevation of circulating LDGs has been observed in a variety of immune-mediated inflammatory diseases and may implicate a novel pathogenic mechanism in immunemediated diseases
Summary
Neutrophils are key players in the innate immune system, and they are one of the first responders against infectious agents and other pathogenic assaults [1, 2]. Neutrophil dysregulation was reported to have a critical role in various immune-mediated inflammatory diseases [3]. LDNs were first identified in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients in 1986 Because of their relative low density (
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