* Neutrophils promote clearance of nuclear debris following acid-induced lung injury.
- Neutrophils are critical mediators of host defense in pathogen-induced and sterile inflammation. Excessive neutrophil activation has been associated with increased host pathology through collateral organ damage. The beneficial aspects of neutrophil activation, particularly in sterile inflammation, are less well defined. We observed accumulation of nuclear debris in the lungs of neutropenic mice exposed to acid-induced injury compared with wild type. Size analysis of DNA debris showed that neutropenic mice were unable to degrade extracellular DNA fragments. In addition, we found that neutrophils are able to differentially express DNA-degrading and repair-associated genes and proteins. Once neutrophils are at sites of lung inflammation, they are able to phagocytose and degrade extracellular DNA. This neutrophil-dependent DNA degradation occurs in a MyD88-dependent pathway. The increased DNA debris in neutropenic mice was associated with dysregulated alveolar repair and the phenotype is rescued by intratracheal administration of DNase I. Thus, we show a novel mechanism as part of the inflammatory response, in which neutrophils engulf and degrade extracellular DNA fragments and allow for optimal organ repair.
Overview of verb observe
The verb observe has 9 senses (first 8 from tagged texts)
1. (39) detect, observe, find, discover, notice -- (discover or determine the existence, presence,
or fact of; "She detected high levels of lead in her drinking water"; "We found traces of lead in
the paint")
2. (17) note, observe, mention, remark -- (make mention of; "She observed that his presentation took
up too much time"; "They noted that it was a fine day to go sailing")
3. (12) note, take note, observe -- (observe with care or pay close attention to; "Take note of this
chemical reaction")
4. (10) observe -- (watch attentively; "Please observe the reaction of these two chemicals")
5. (4) respect, honor, honour, abide by, observe -- (show respect towards; "honor your parents!")
6. (3) observe, celebrate, keep -- (behave as expected during of holidays or rites; "Keep the
commandments"; "celebrate Christmas"; "Observe Yom Kippur")
7. (2) watch, observe, follow, watch over, keep an eye on -- (follow with the eyes or the mind;
"Keep an eye on the baby, please!"; "The world is watching Sarajevo"; "She followed the men with the
binoculars")
8. (1) observe, keep, maintain -- (stick to correctly or closely; "The pianist kept time with the
metronome"; "keep count"; "I cannot keep track of all my employees")
9. observe, keep -- (conform one's action or practice to; "keep appointments"; "she never keeps her
promises"; "We kept to the original conditions of the contract")
Overview of adj observed
The adj observed has 1 sense (first 1 from tagged texts)
1. (7) ascertained, discovered, observed -- (discovered or determined by scientific observation;
"variation in the ascertained flux depends on a number of factors"; "the discovered behavior norms";
"discovered differences in achievement"; "no explanation for the observed phenomena")
--- WordNet end ---