Therapeutic targeting of neutrophil exocytosis

J Leukoc Biol. 2020 Mar;107(3):393-408. doi: 10.1002/JLB.3RI0120-645R. Epub 2020 Jan 28.

Abstract

Dysregulation of neutrophil activation causes disease in humans. Neither global inhibition of neutrophil functions nor neutrophil depletion provides safe and/or effective therapeutic approaches. The role of neutrophil granule exocytosis in multiple steps leading to recruitment and cell injury led each of our laboratories to develop molecular inhibitors that interfere with specific molecular regulators of secretion. This review summarizes neutrophil granule formation and contents, the role granule cargo plays in neutrophil functional responses and neutrophil-mediated diseases, and the mechanisms of granule release that provide the rationale for development of our exocytosis inhibitors. We present evidence for the inhibition of granule exocytosis in vitro and in vivo by those inhibitors and summarize animal data indicating that inhibition of neutrophil exocytosis is a viable therapeutic strategy.

Keywords: JFC1; Rab27a; SNARE proteins; inflammation; inhibitor; neutrophil function; vesicular trafficking.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cytoplasmic Granules / metabolism
  • Disease
  • Exocytosis*
  • Humans
  • Molecular Targeted Therapy*
  • Neutrophils / cytology*
  • SNARE Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • SNARE Proteins