Human neutrophil heterogeneity exists, but is it meaningful?

Abstract

Neutrophils are one of the major phagocytes of the body's defenses, and they have long been considered a homogeneous cell population that seeks and destroys pathogens and then mysteriously disappears into oblivion. In recent years, it has become clear that the concept of neutrophil homogeneity is not valid, and peripheral blood neutrophils have been shown to be heterogeneous by several parameters. The purpose of this review is to summarize the evidence for neutrophil heterogeneity to speculate on the potential importance of this heterogeneity in in vitro investigations and in the homeostasis of host defenses.