Although a large number of neutrophils are present in the normal lung, their function and modulators for the neutrophils remains largely unknown. Korean researchers at Sungkyunkwan University report that unique characteristics of lung neutrophils are conferred by prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), which is an abundant bioactive lipid in the lung. PGE2/protein kinase A (PKA)/Transglutaminase 2 (Tgm2) cascade is importantly involved in the immunosuppressive function of lung neutrophils at steady state and under acute respiratory distress syndrome. The study appears in the journal 'Blood' in June, 2022.

Research team, led by Prof. Yoe-Sik Bae, have identified lung environmental PGE2 reduces apoptosis of neutrophils and elongate life span of the cells, and Tgm2, a downstream signaling molecule of PGE2, negatively regulates inflammatory response against pathogen infection, producing lower inflammatory cytokines. 

Prof. Bae said that "We have revealed how the lungs are protected from excessive inflammatory responses under pathological conditions such as infections." "Our results are expected to be applied to the development of therapeutic agents for various infectious and inflammatory lung diseases." Prof. Bae said. 

[Reference] Bae et al. (2022), “Unique characteristics of lung resident neutrophils are maintained by PGE2/PKA/Tgm2-mediated signaling”, Blood, doi: 10.1182/blood.2021014283. 

[Main Author] Geon Ho Bae (Sungkyunkwan University), Yoe-Sik Bae (Sungkyunkwan University)

* Contact : Professor Yoe-Sik Bae (yoesik@skku.edu)