Neutrophil Extracellular Traps and Microcrystals

Neutrophil Extracellular Traps and Microcrystals

Neutrophil extracellular traps represent a fascinating mechanism by which PMNs entrap extracellular microbes. The primary purpose of this innate immune mechanism is thought to localize the infection at an early stage. Interestingly, the ability of different microcrystals to induce NET formation has been recently described. Microcrystals are insoluble crystals with a size of 1-100 micrometers th...

Neutrophil extracellular traps

Cancers prime neutrophils to release extracellular DNA traps through the systemic release of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF). We recently showed that these circulating neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) promote the establishment of a pro-thrombotic state. The role of NETs in cancer biology and tumor progression may prove much more than an unfortunate side effect of cancer.

Neutrophil extracellular traps

Coming soon to a doctor’s surgery near you? Hopes placed on the sequencing of ‘the’ human genome and the subsequent identification of many single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have turned out to be misguided, as the causes of common diseases like cancer and heart disease have proven too complex to be addressed with simple SNP searches. Also, large-scale genomic differences like copy number va...

Neutrophil Extracellular Traps Microcrystals Induce Formation of Calcium Pyrophosphate Dihydrate Pseudogout-Associated Inflammatory

Pseudogout-associated inflammatory calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate microcrystals induce formation of neutrophil extracellular traps.

Pseudogout is an autoinflammatory condition triggered by calcium pyrophosphate dehydrate (CPPD) crystal deposition in the joints. The innate immune system is irritated by and responds to the presence of the crystals with an inflammatory response. The synovial fluid contains activated inflammatory macrophages and neutrophil granulocytes. Several details of crystal-induced macrophage activation w...