Neutrophils in Allergic Disease

Airway inflammation plays a key role in allergic respiratory disease but is heterogeneous in nature. Most patients have type 2-driven, eosinophil-dominated inflammation, with effective therapies ranging from inhaled corticosteroids to novel biologics. Not all sufferers respond to these drugs however, with unresponsiveness particularly in low or non-eosinophilic inflammation. For example, some 20% of asthmatic adults have increased airway neutrophils. They tend to be older with a possibly pathogenic airway microbiome. Currently, there are no specific therapeutic options for them. Similar situations exist in the upper airway and skin.

Neutrophils, which make up 70% of the white cells in the blood, play a critical role in defence against infection. This makes them a problematic target for therapeutics. Neutrophil functions change with age, with reduced efficacy in microbial killing and production of extracellular traps, but increased release of reactive oxygen species which may damage airway cells and lead to mucus hypersecretion and airway remodelling. Different therapeutic strategies may be required for older adults compared to children where neutrophils may be less pathogenic. This review is to explore the topic of neutrophils in various allergic diseases in order to profit from shared knowledge and experience.

The Editors welcome manuscripts that aim to:

- Explore the presence of neutrophils in various allergic conditions and whether this has age / epidemiological / therapeutic connotations.

- Define their mechanisms of recruitment and role in pathophysiology of disease.

- Investigate potential therapeutic options, such as antibiotics, bacteriophages, anti-toxins and their likely adverse effects.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• ... View all formats

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Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Neutrophils, Asthma, Rhinosinusitis, Eczema, Bacteria, Staphylococci, Inflammation, Damage, Antibiotics, Bacteriophages, Anti-toxins

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.