Neutrophil Death in Myeloproliferative Neoplasms: Shedding More Light on Neutrophils as a Pathogenic Link to Chronic Inflammation

Abstract

Neutrophils are an essential component of the innate immune response, but their prolonged activation can lead to chronic inflammation. Consequently, neutrophil homeostasis is tightly regulated through balance between granulopoiesis and clearance of dying cells. The bone marrow is both a site of neutrophil production and the place they return to and die. Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) are clonal hematopoietic disorders characterized by the mutations in three types of molecular markers, with emphasis on Janus kinase 2 gene mutation (JAK2V617F). The MPN bone marrow stem cell niche is a site of chronic inflammation, with commonly increased cells of myeloid lineage, including neutrophils. The MPN neutrophils are characterized by the upregulation of JAK target genes. Additionally, MPN neutrophils display malignant nature, they are in a state of activation, and with deregulated apoptotic machinery. In other words, neutrophils deserve to be placed in the midst of major events in MPN. Our crucial interest in this review is better understanding of how neutrophils die in MPN mirrored by defects in apoptosis and to what possible extent they can contribute to MPN pathophysiology. We tend to expect that reduced neutrophil apoptosis will establish a pathogenic link to chronic inflammation in MPN.