Nat Immunol, 2020 · DOI: 10.1038/s41590-020-00813-0 · Published: December 1, 2020
Transected axons in the central nervous system (CNS) typically fail to regenerate, leading to chronic neurological issues. This study identifies a unique subset of neutrophils that promotes neuron survival and axon regeneration in the CNS. These pro-regenerative neutrophils were found to promote repair in both the optic nerve and spinal cord, suggesting their broad relevance across different areas of the CNS and various neuronal populations. The discovery of these beneficial neutrophils could pave the way for new immunotherapies aimed at reversing CNS damage and restoring neurological function in a range of diseases.
The identification of neuroregenerative neutrophils opens avenues for developing novel immunotherapies to treat traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, and other CNS disorders.
Strategies to expand endogenous populations of alternatively activated neutrophils or adoptive transfer of ex vivo generated neuroregenerative neutrophils could be explored.
Combining the distinctive mechanism of action of Ly6Glow neuroregenerative neutrophil subset with agents that block cell-intrinsic or extrinsic suppressors of axon growth could enhance axonal regeneration.