LAIR-1 limits neutrophil extracellular trap formation in viral bronchiolitis

Ruben J. Geerdink, MSc; Marije P. Hennus, PhD, MD; Geertje H. A. Westerlaken, BSc; Alferso C. Abrahams, MD; Kim I. Albers, MD; Jona Walk, MD; Esther Wesselink, MD; Riny Janssen, PhD; Louis Bont, PhD, MD; Linde Meyaard, PhD

How to hold neutrophils in check
During RSV bronchiolitis neutrophils are the most abundant immune cells in the lung. Neutrophils are known to produce neutrophil extra cellular traps (NETs) which can induce injury to epithelial cells and hence contribute to disease severity. Neutrophils express several inhibitory receptors including LAIR-1. Whether targeting this receptor could diminish NET release is the question Geerdink and colleagues answer in their article. Their study demonstrates that sputum neutrophils from the lungs of RSV infected patients are highly activated and show increased LAIR-1 expression compared to blood derived neutrophils. More strikingly; targeting LAIR-1 with antibodies inhibited NET formation by 50%. This finding offers an innovative strategy that, together with newly developed antiviral, could contribute to the treatment of  RSV bronchiolitis.

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