Expanding roles of neutrophils in aging hosts.

Neutrophils' role in the clearance of pathogens is well documented, but there is increasing appreciation that neutrophils can participate in the resolution of infection and inflammation. An obvious implication is that alteration of neutrophil functions with old age could significant impact both susceptibility of the host to infection and inflammatory conditions. Advances in recent years suggest additional chinks in the neutrophil antimicrobial arsenals in aged hosts, which render neutrophils less capable of killing pathogens. Moreover there is evidence that changes in neutrophil cross-talk with other immune cells also contribute to poor resolution of inflammation. These advances provide new insight on how these phagocytic cells could contribute to age-related diseases.