Abstract
Venous thrombosis (VT), a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, has recently been linked to neutrophil activation and release of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) via a process called NETosis. The use of various in vivo thrombosis models and genetically modified mice has more precisely defined the exact role of NETosis in the pathogenesis of VT. Translational large animal VT models and human studies have confirmed the presence of NETs in pathologic VT. Activation of neutrophils, with subsequent NETosis, has also been linked to acute infection. This innate immune response, while effective for bacterial clearance from the host by formation of an intravascular bactericidal “net,” also triggers thrombosis. Intravascular thrombosis related to such innate immune mechanisms has been coined immunothrombosis. Dysregulated immunothrombosis has been proposed as a mechanism of pathologic micro- and macrovascular thrombosis in sepsis and autoimmune disease. In this focused review, we will address the dual role of NETs in the pathogenesis of VT and immunothrombosis.
Highlights
Neutrophils (PMNs) have frequently been touted as the pawns of the immune system
We look forward to the future with great expectations for upcoming discoveries in the field of NETosis
Henke wrote and edited the paper, approved of the submission, and is responsible for the content
Summary
Section of Vascular Surgery, Conrad Jobst Vascular Research Laboratories, Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. Reviewed by: Kenneth Reid, University of Oxford, UK Roberta Bulla, University of Trieste, Italy. Specialty section: This article was submitted to Molecular Innate Immunity, a section of the journal
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