Neutrophil Extracellular Trap (NET): The Interplay Between Infection, Inflammation and Thrombosis

Author(s): Mohammed Saied Mohammed Bakeer, Yossef Nassar, Mahmoud A Allam

While the observation that the interactions between infection and thrombosis is a well-known fact, the mechanism behind this connection was not clear. Also, it was known for a long period that thrombus contains neutrophils within its skeleton. Histon an intranuclear component, was known to have a very strong microbicidal property, the question was how could it reach its target? Could the discovery of this new mechanism in neutrophil biology; namely neutrophil extracellular trap (NET), answer these issues? Hopefully it could. This review will focus on the production of NET (NETosis), its implications in different diseases, its role in understanding the connection between infection, inflammation and thrombosis, finally we will look for the potentials of targeting it, for therapeutic benefits.