Neutrophil Extracellular Traps: At the Interface of Thrombosis and Comorbidities

Abstract

Since their discovery in 2004, neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) have been at the center of multidisciplinary attention. Although a key tool in neutrophil-mediated immunity, these filamentous, enzyme-enriched DNA-histone complexes can be detrimental to tissues and have been identified as an underlying factor in a range of pathological conditions. Building on more than 20 years of research into NETs, this review places thrombosis, the pathological formation of blood clots, in the spotlight. From this point of view, we discuss the structure and formation of NETs, as well as the interaction of their components with the hemostatic system, dissecting the pathways through which NETs exert their marked effect on formation and the dissolution of thrombi. We pay distinct attention to the latest developments in the research of a key player in NET formation, peptidyl-arginine-deiminase (PAD) enzymes: their types, sources, and potential cross-play with the hemostatic machinery. Besides these molecular details, we elaborate on the link between pathological thrombosis, NETs, and widespread conditions that represent a debilitating public health burden worldwide, such as sepsis and neoplasms. Finally, future implications on the treatment of thrombosis-related conditions will be discussed.