Neutrophil Extracellular Traps Increase Airway Mucus Viscoelasticity and Slow Mucus Particle Transit.

ABSTRACT: Mucus obstruction is a key feature of many inflammatory airway diseases. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are released upon neutrophil stimulation and consist of extracellular chromatin networks studded with cytotoxic proteins. When released in the airways, these NETs can become part of the airway mucus. We hypothesized that the extracellular DNA and/or oxidative stress (e.g., by the release of reactive oxygen species and myeloperoxidase during NETs formation in the airways) would increase mucus viscoelasticity. We collected human airway mucus from endotracheal tubes of healthy patients admitted for elective surgery and coincubated these samples with NETs from phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-stimulated neutrophils. Unstimulated neutrophils served as controls, and blocking experiments

SUBMITTER: Linssen RS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7780998 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature