Neutrophil granulocytes, the most common white blood cells in humans may have a key role in the development of inflammatory diseases as well as in the development of tumours and metastases as the latest study suggests. Therefore, they have been intensively researched lately as potential therapeutic targets. The most prestigious international journal on drug development, Nature Reviews Drug Discovery has recently requested a review on the therapeutic potential of neutrophil granulocytes from the researchers of Semmelweis University’s Department of Physiology.
Neutrophil granulocytes (neutrophils) are the largest number of white blood cells circulating in the human body, which play a key role in fighting bacterial or fungal infections. However, if their function is regulated insufficiently, neutrophils can act as “double-edged swords” by contributing significantly to tissue damage seen in several inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. The latest studies suggest that in addition to the above, neutrophils have an important role in the development of tumours and metastases. Consequently, interest in neutrophils as potential drug therapy targets has increased in recent years.
The review written upon the request of Nature Reviews Drug Discovery, the most prestigious international journal on drug development, focuses on the role neutrophil granulocytes have in the development of inflammatory diseases. The first and last authors of the review, Dr. Tamás Németh, senior lecturer and Dr. Attila Mócsai, professor from the Department of Physiology have achieved outstanding scientific results in the field, which they summarized in the article published in the April issue of the printed journal.
The researchers of the Inflammation Physiology Research Group at the Department of Physiology have been studying the role of neutrophils in the development of autoimmune diseases using various transgenic approaches. The involvement of neutrophils in the development of inflammatory skin and joint diseases has been demonstrated in animal models. Further studies proved the role of several inter-cellular signalling proteins (mainly tyrosine kinases and their substrates) in the development of inflammatory mechanisms in experimental models. In their most recent experiment, conditional gene deletion is used to determine the role of the signalling molecules in the development of the inflammation in each cell type, which enables an even more precise identification of drug attack points on a cellular level.
“The cooperation between basic researchers and clinicians is necessary in order to better understand inflammatory diseases, including rheumatological diseases and to find therapy. This cooperation is supported by the fact that Dr. Tamás Németh, first author of the paper is a rheumatologist at the Buda Hospital of the Hospitaller Order of Saint John of God in addition to being a senior lecturer at the Department of Physiology.”, said Dr. Attila Mócsai.
Dr. György Nagy, professor of the Department of Genetics, Cell and Immunobiology and the former Department of Rheumatology has also greatly contributed to the cooperation between the Department of Physiology and leading rheumatologists in Budapest. This relationship enabled the participation of Semmelweis University in the RTCure project, the largest European research project of experimental rheumatology supported by the H2020 programme of the European Union. The Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology is to be founded on 1st October 2020 based on the Senate’s decision, which is expected to further strengthen the cooperation of theoretical and clinical researchers in the field of rheumatology.
Pálma Dobozi
Photo: Attila Kovács – Semmelweis University
Translation: Ágnes Raubinek
