Mouse Models and Tools for the in vivo Study of Neutrophils.

Julien Stackowicz,Friederike Jönsson,Laurent L Reber

doi:10.3389/fimmu.2019.03130

Abstract

Neutrophils are the most abundant leukocytes in human blood and critical actors of the immune system. Many neutrophil functions and facets of their activity in vivo were revealed by studying genetically modified mice or by tracking fluorescent neutrophils in animals using imaging approaches. Assessing the roles of neutrophils can be challenging, especially when exact molecular pathways are questioned or disease states are interrogated that alter normal neutrophil homeostasis. This review discusses the main in vivo models for the study of neutrophils, their advantages and limitations. The side-by-side comparison underlines the necessity to carefully choose the right model(s) to answer a given scientific question, and exhibit caveats that need to be taken into account when designing experimental procedures. Collectively, this review suggests that at least two models should be employed to legitimately conclude on neutrophil functions.

Highlights

Neutrophils are key players of the immune system
And different to results obtained in Gfi-1−/− mice, Genista mice still developed significant inflammation in these two models, albeit at reduced levels when compared to WT mice [142]. This suggests that residual CD11b+/Ly-6Gint cells even though not fully mature are capable of sustaining inflammatory processes, and question the use of Genista mice for in vivo studies of neutrophil functions
The use of mouse models for the study of neutrophils in vivo represents a milestone in the understanding of the biology of these cells, and has enabled the deep interrogation of a number of pathways leading to diverse pathologies

Summary

Introduction

Neutrophils are key players of the immune system. They are the first leukocytes to be recruited to inflammatory sites [1] and they can contribute to inflammation through several mechanisms. One of the most striking features of Gfi-1−/− mice is the quasi absence of mature neutrophil numbers in the blood, spleen and bone marrow [124, 130], highlighting the role of this gene in the differentiation and/or survival of neutrophils.

Results

Conclusion