Researchers create single-cell atlas of human neutrophils

A new study published in Nature Immunology has introduced the Single-Cell Atlas of Human Neutrophils (SCAHN), a comprehensive resource created by integrating transcriptome data from approximately one million human neutrophils. By analyzing 43 independent datasets across 781 samples, researchers identified multiple neutrophil subsets with distinct functions across various tissues, including the lung, bone marrow, liver, and spleen.

The research demonstrates that neutrophil gene expression and subset proportions change significantly during infection, cancer, and immune suppression. Furthermore, the study found that neutrophil-specific signatures can predict mortality in acutely ill patients upon hospital presentation and are associated with cancer diagnosis, survival rates, metabolic dysfunction, and long-term all-cause mortality.

By mapping these findings across species, including mice and nonhuman primates, the study highlights both conserved and species-specific features. The researchers suggest that neutrophil profiling could eventually be used to improve immune risk stratification and the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.