The Open Virology Journal
2009, 3 : 52-59Published online 2009 June 19. DOI: 10.2174/1874357900903010052
Publisher ID: TOVJ-3-52
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Neutrophil Apoptosis During Viral Infections
1
Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Université Pierre et Marie Curie – Paris 6, UMR S 872, Paris, F-75006 France ; Université Paris Descartes, UMR S 872, Paris, F-75006 France ; INSERM, U872, Paris, F-75006, France
2 Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19129, USA
3 INSERM U955, Faculté Créteil Henri Mondor, Créteil, F-94000, France
* Address correspondence to these authors at the INSERM U955, Faculté Créteil Henri Mondor, 8 rue du Général Sarrail, 94010 Créteil, France; Tel: +33 1 49 81 36 72; E-mail: estaquier@yahoo.fr
2 Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19129, USA
3 INSERM U955, Faculté Créteil Henri Mondor, Créteil, F-94000, France
* Address correspondence to these authors at the INSERM U955, Faculté Créteil Henri Mondor, 8 rue du Général Sarrail, 94010 Créteil, France; Tel: +33 1 49 81 36 72; E-mail: estaquier@yahoo.fr
ABSTRACT
Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, is a highly conserved cellular suicide mechanism. Apoptosis is critical to the effective resolution of inflammation, particularly in regulating the lifespan of neutrophils. Neutrophils are key components of the first line of defense against microorganisms. Thus, subversion of this critical host defense mechanism by pathogens can contribute to susceptibility to severe and recurrent infections. In this review, we describe the molecular mechanisms involved in PMN death in relationship with viral infections.