CELL SIGNALING BY INTEGRINS AND IMMUNOGLOBULIN RECEPTORS IN PRIMED NEUTROPHILS

Neutrophils use a variety of cell-surface receptors for attachment to surfaces, such as the endothelium or opsonized pathogens. During infla mmation or infection, chemoattractants or cytokines bind to neutrophil s and upregulate or 'prime' their responsiveness. Priming can increase the number of some receptors expressed on the cell surface but can al so change receptor function, so that the receptor has altered ligand-b inding properties or becomes linked to new intracellular signalling sy stems.