Protein preserves delicate balance between immune response and host
Friday, October 29, 2010 - 08:10
in Biology & Nature
White blood cells called neutrophils are part of the body's first line of defence against bacterial infection. Neutrophils are recruited from the bloodstream to infected tissues where they release powerful chemicals that kill bacteria and amplify the immune response. These cells function as first responders at the scene of infection and often have a short life span. As a result, new neutrophils are produced continuously from stem cells in the bone marrow. Previous research has suggested that regulation of neutrophil production is a complex and carefully controlled process...