Trapped Chromatin Fibers Damage Flowing Red Blood Cells.

ABSTRACT: Neutrophils are the most abundant white blood cells in the circulation and serve antimicrobial functions. One of their antimicrobial mechanisms involves the release of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), long chromatin fibers decorated with antimicrobial granular proteins that contribute to the elimination of pathogens. However, the release of NETs has also been associated with disease processes. While recent research has focused on biochemical reactions catalyzed by NETs, significantly less is known about the mechanical effect of NETs in circulation. Here, microfluidic devices and biophysical models are employed to study the consequences of the interactions between NETs trapped in channels and red blood cells (RBCs) flowing in blood over the NETs. It has been found that the RBCs can be

SUBMITTER: Roushan M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6586417 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature