Neutrophil extracellular traps in bronchial aspirates: a quantitative analysis.

Abstract

Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are structures composed of DNA and granular proteins, which rapidly trap and kill pathogens. The formation of NETs has been detected during infection in animal experiments, but their role in humans is unclear. The purposes of this study were to quantitatively evaluate the production of NETs during acute respiratory infection and to study the relationship between the NET length and various inflammatory mediators. We examined bronchial aspirates collected from nine intubated patients in an intensive care unit. Samples were collected at the onset of acute respiratory infection (day 0) and on days 1, 3-5, and 6-8. The NET length was visualised by immunohistochemistry and quantified using computer tracing software. The NET length was measured and compared at each time point. The length differed significantly between time points (p<0.001). NETs were significantly longer on day 1 than on day 0 (p<0.001). Neutrophils released NETs abundantly in response to respiratory infection and regression analysis showed that NET length correlated with six clinical parameters (white blood cells, platelets, lactate, CXC ligand-2, interleukin-8, and procalcitonin) as the explanatory variables. NETs in bronchial aspirates may reflect disease progression of respiratory infections. Quantification of NETs in bronchial aspirates may provide a new indicator of inflammation.

• Authors: Shigeto Hamaguchi, Tomoya Hirose, Naoya Matsumoto, Yukihiro Akeda, Taro Irisawa, Masafumi Seki, Hideo Hosotsubo, Kouji Yamamoto, Osamu Tasaki, Kazunori Oishi, Takeshi Shimazu, Kazunori Tomono
• Journal: The European respiratory journal (Eur Respir J) Vol. 43 Issue 6 Pg. 1709-18 (Jun 2014) ISSN: 1399-3003 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 24603817 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: ©ERS 2014.

Chemical References

• Histones
• DNA

Topics

• Acute Disease
• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Bronchi (metabolism, microbiology, pathology)
• Child
• DNA (chemistry)
• Disease Progression
• Extracellular Traps
• Female
• Histones (chemistry)
• Humans
• Inflammation
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Neutrophils (cytology, metabolism)
• Respiratory Tract Infections (metabolism)
• Time Factors