Analysis of a mechanism of neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) fromation and a role of NETs in infectious and inflammatory diseases.

中性粒细胞胞外陷阱（Neutrophil extracellular traps, NETs）是一种新发现的由活化的中性粒细胞形成的细胞外杀伤机制，有助于宿主防御，然而，据报道，它通过释放强效的危险介质，如抗微生物肽，与免疫血栓形成和炎症/自身免疫性疾病的发病有关。在这项研究中，我们揭示了以下三个主要发现：1) Siglet氧是活化中性粒细胞产生的活性氧之一，对NET的形成至关重要；2)血清NET水平可预测同种异体干细胞移植（allogeneic stem cell transplantation， SCT）后血栓性微血管病变，这是SCT的重要并发症之一。3)尿酸诱导与NADPH氧化酶无关的NET形成，提示NET可能是血清尿酸升高与心血管疾病之间缺失的一环。

Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), a newly recognized extracellular killing mechanism by activated neutrophils, contribute to host defense, however, it is reported to be relevant to the pathogenesis of immunothrombosis and inflammatory/ autoimmune diseases by releasing potent hazarous mediators, such as anti-microbial peptides. In this study, we revealed three major findings as below; 1) Siglet oxygen, one of the reactive oxygen species produced by activated neutrophils, is essential for NET formation, 2) Serum NET levels predict thrombotic microangiopathy after allogeneic stem cell transplantaion (SCT), which is one of the critical complications of SCT. 3) Uric acid induces NADPH oxidase-independent NET formation, suggesting that NETs could be a missing link between serum uric acid elevation and cardiovascular diseases.