Investigation of Allogeneic Neutrophil Transfusion in Improving Survival Rates of Severe Infection Mice

Abstract

The management of granulocytopenia-associated infections is challenging, and a high mortality rate is associated with traditional supportive therapies. Neutrophils—the primary defenders of the human immune system—have potent bactericidal capabilities. Here, we investigated the dynamic in vivo distribution of neutrophil transfusion and their impact on the treatment outcome of severe granulocytopenic infections. We transfused 89Zr-labeled neutrophils in the C57BL/6 mice and observed the dynamic neutrophil distribution in mice for 24 h using the micro-positron emission tomography (Micro-PET) technique. The labeled neutrophils were predominantly retained in the lungs and spleen up to 4 h after injection and then redistributed to other organs, such as the spleen, liver, and bone marrow. Neutrophil transfusion did not elicit marked inflammatory responses or organ damage in healthy host mice. Notably, allogeneic neutrophils showed rapid chemotaxis to the infected area of the host within 1 h. Tail vein infusion of approximately 107 neutrophils substantially bolstered host immunity, ameliorated the inflammatory state, and increased survival rates in neutrophil-depleted and infected mice. Overall, massive allogeneic neutrophil transfusion had a therapeutic effect in severe infections and can have extensive applications in the future.