Neutrophil progenitors and related methods and uses

A method of identifying neutrophil progenitors, the method comprising:

• determining an expression of the following biomarkers:
• CD71, LOX-1, CD164, CD112, CD181, TACSTD2, CD11b and CD49d in a cell;
• identifying the cell as an early neutrophil progenitor when it is determined to have the following expression profiles:
• CD71hi/+, LOX-1int/lo/−, CD164hi/+, CD112hi/+, CD181int/lo/− TACSTD2hi/+, CD11blo/− and CD49dint/hi/+;
• selecting the cell identified as the early neutrophil progenitor;
• determining an expression of the selected cell of a further biomarker CD49d and a side-scatter (SSC) property of the neutrophil progenitor;
• identifying the cell as an early committed neutrophil progenitor or an intermediate neutrophil progenitor subtype based on the expression of the further biomarker and the side-scatter property,
• wherein where the cell is determined to be CD71hi/+, CD49dhi/+ and SSClo, the cell is identified as an early committed neutrophil progenitor, and
• wherein where the cell is determined to be CD71hi/+, CD49dint/lo/− and SSChi, the cell is identified as an intermediate neutrophil progenitor that is downstream in neutrophil lineage to the early committed neutrophil progenitor,
• wherein the method further comprising culturing the identified neutrophil progenitors to obtain proliferation and/or differentiation of the neutrophil progenitors to obtain progenies thereof, and
• administering the neutrophil progenitors and/or the progenies thereof to a subject in need thereof.