A Multi-Modal Toolkit for Studying Neutrophils in Cancer and Beyond

Simple Summary: Neutrophils are critical immune cells in host defense and maintenance of tissue homeostasis. Studying the complex and diverse functions of these innate immune cells requires a comprehensive toolkit of experimental techniques to elucidate the function and regulation of neutrophils in health and disease. In this review, we discuss key methodologies and their applications in neutrophil research, including in vivo imaging, ex vivo functional assays, and high dimensional single-cell technologies, and how they can be integrated into a multi-modal approach to study neutrophil function in cancer and other diseases. As key effector cells of the innate immune response, neutrophils are rapidly deployed to sites of inflammation where they deliver a payload of potent effector mechanisms that are essential for host defense against pathogens as well as tissue homeostasis. In addition, neutrophils are central contributors to the pathogenesis of a vast spectrum of inflammatory, degenerative, and neoplastic diseases. As our understanding of neutrophils in health and disease continually expands, so too does our appreciation of their complex and dynamic nature in vivo; from development, maturation, and trafficking to cellular heterogeneity and functional plasticity. Therefore, contemporary neutrophil research relies on multiple complementary methodologies to perform integrated analysis of neutrophil phenotypic heterogeneity, organ- and stimulus-specific trafficking mechanisms, as well as tailored effector functions in vivo. This review discusses established and emerging technologies used to study neutrophils, with a focus on in vivo imaging in animal models, as well as next-generation ex vivo model systems to study mechanisms of neutrophil function. Furthermore, we discuss how high-dimensional single-cell analysis technologies are driving a renaissance in neutrophil biology by redefining our understanding of neutrophil development, heterogeneity, and functional plasticity. Finally, we discuss innovative applications and emerging opportunities to integrate these high-dimensional, multi-modal techniques to deepen our understanding of neutrophils in cancer research and beyond.

Automated summary

Neutrophils are crucial immune cells involved in host defense and maintaining tissue homeostasis. Comprehensive experimental techniques, including in vivo imaging, ex vivo functional assays, and high-dimensional single-cell technologies, are required to study the complex functions of neutrophils. By integrating these methodologies, researchers can gain insights into the role of neutrophils in various diseases, particularly cancer.