Regulation of neutrophil extracellular trap formation

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

Neutrophils are indispensable components of the innate immune system. A key functional response of these cells is their ability to release so-called neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) – a meshwork of extruded chromatin filaments that are decorated with histones, as well as with proteins originating from the cytoplasm or intracellular granules. NETs were first described a decade ago, as structures that entrap (whence the name) various microorganisms and can thus participate in their killing. NETs have since been detected in a variety of inflammatory contexts, and were shown to help in preventing the dissemination of microorganisms in animals models. As a result, it has become a widely held view that NETs must represent a major defense mechanism against infection.