Lowery Austin, Zhu Yanfang Peipei, Hedrick Catherine C
Immunology Center of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia 30912, United States.
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia 30912, United States.
J Leukoc Biol. 2025 Jun 4;117(6). doi: 10.1093/jleuko/qiaf074.
Neutrophils are traditionally known as short-lived pathogen-killing cells, but recent work published in Nature by Hidalgo and colleagues uncovers a novel role for neutrophils in maintaining skin integrity. Using transcriptomics, imaging, and genetic models, the study reveals that skin-infiltrating neutrophils produce collagen, particularly COL3A1, to regulate tissue mechanics and form matrix-rich "shields" that prevent pathogen entry. Collagen production by these specialized neutrophils in the skin was TGFβ-dependent and essential for wound protection, as its disruption led to disorganized skin architecture and increased bacterial invasion. This work redefines neutrophils as dynamic matrix-builders in barrier tissues, offering new insights into immune-tissue crosstalk and advancing our understanding of wound healing and host defense.
传统上，中性粒细胞被认为是寿命较短的病原体杀伤细胞，但希达尔戈及其同事最近发表在《自然》杂志上的研究揭示了中性粒细胞在维持皮肤完整性方面的新作用。通过转录组学、成像和基因模型，该研究表明，浸润皮肤的中性粒细胞会产生胶原蛋白，尤其是COL3A1，以调节组织力学并形成富含基质的“屏障”，防止病原体进入。皮肤中这些特殊中性粒细胞产生胶原蛋白依赖于转化生长因子β（TGFβ），对伤口保护至关重要，因为其破坏会导致皮肤结构紊乱并增加细菌入侵。这项研究将中性粒细胞重新定义为屏障组织中的动态基质构建者，为免疫组织相互作用提供了新见解，并加深了我们对伤口愈合和宿主防御的理解。
