Vimentin regulates mitochondrial ROS production and inflammatory responses of neutrophils

The intermediate filament vimentin is present in immune cells. It provides structural support to cells and functions in macrophages to coordinate inflammatory responses. Neutrophils are an abundance innate immune cell that function by distinct mechanisms from macrophages to mediate antimicrobial activities. The role of vimentin in neutrophils is not established. Here, we developed an immortalized neutrophil model to examine the requirement of vimentin. We demonstrate that vimentin restricts proinflammatory cytokine production and reactive oxygen species production, but enhances phagocytosis and swarming. We observe that vimentin is dispensable for neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation, degranulation, and for inflammasome activation. Moreover, gene expression analysis defined vimentin presence was associated with expression changes in multiple genes required for mitochondrial function and ROS overproduction in the absence of vimentin. By treatment of cells producing vimentin with rotenone, an inhibitor for complex I of the electron transport chain, or by treatment of cells lacking vimentin with mitoTEMPO, a SOD mimetic, we complement the changes in ROS levels through manipulation of mitochondrial function. Together, we suggest vimentin regulates neutrophil antimicrobial functions and alters ROS levels through regulation of mitochondrial activity.