Neutrófilos: Los mártires de la respuesta inmune innata

Abstract

Under normal conditions, the neutrophils are the leukocytes more abundant in the bloodstream, and these cells are a relevant part of the innate immune response. They are the first cells recruited to sites of injury or inflammation to eliminate and prevent the spread of pathogenic microorganisms or foreign agents immediately without depending on previous exposure. Neutrophils directly detect common structures conserved in pathogens through pattern recognition receptors (PRR) or facilitated by soluble molecules called opsonins. This recognizing activates the neutrophil effector functions, including phagocytosis, intracellular killing through phagolysosome formation, the release of antimicrobial granule contents by degranulation, or neutrophil extracellular traps (NET). This article describes the relevance of these cells in the immune response, highlighting the characteristics that make them “martyrs” as they are capable of dying faithful to their cause, protecting the body from infections.