Journal of Clinical and Cellular Immunology
Open Access

Akira Takashima

Publications

• Research Article
  Gene Expression Analysis on Neutrophil-Dendritic Hybrid Cells in Synovial Fluid from Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) Patient
  Author(s): Yun Liu, Toshio Ota, Xiaohuan Chen, Hallie Dolin, Karen Pan, Akira Takashima, Atsushi Hinohara and Zhixing K PanYun Liu, Toshio Ota, Xiaohuan Chen, Hallie Dolin, Karen Pan, Akira Takashima, Atsushi Hinohara and Zhixing K Pan
  
  Neutrophils, as we have recently discovered, can differentiate into a unique leukocyte population expressing surface markers of both neutrophils and dendritic cells (DCs). The resulting population, termed "neutrophil-DC hybrid", retains the functionality of professional phagocytes while acquiring the properties of professional antigen presenting cells (APCs). In all tested mouse models of inflammatory diseases, hybrid cells emerged at inflammatory lesions, where they functioned as both phagocytes and APCs. Our central hypothesis is that neutrophil-DC hybrids play an important pathogenic role in a variety of inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriasis, and inflammatory bowel disease. If this is correct, one should then be able to treat these disorders by intercepting local transdifferentiation of neutrophils into the hybrids, blocking specific functions of the.. View More»
  

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