biostudies-literatureAckermann MSwiss National Science FoundationEuropean Research CouncilDeutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation)NHLBI NIH HHS3125-3139https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC8142290biostudies-literatureUnknown28(11)SARS-CoV-2 infection poses a major threat to the lungs and multiple other organs, occasionally causing death. Until effective vaccines are developed to curb the pandemic, it is paramount to define the mechanisms and develop protective therapies to prevent organ dysfunction in patients with COVID-19. Individuals that develop severe manifestations have signs of dysregulated innate and adaptive immune responses. Emerging evidence implicates neutrophils and the disbalance between neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation and degradation plays a central role in the pathophysiology of inflammation, coagulopathy, organ damage, and immunothrombosis that characterize severe cases of COVID-19. Here, we discuss the evidence supporting a role for NETs in COVID-19 manifestations and present putativCell death and differentiationPatients with COVID-19: in the dark-NETs of neutrophils.PMC8142290R01 HL150392CRC1181: C03K08 HL1319934D Nanoscope184816310030TRR241: B04Vitkov LKolaczkowska ERovere-Querini PBilyy REgeblad MStark KSturzl MHohberger BKanthi YZarbock ASchauer CSkendros PMaueroder CMitroulis IManfredi AAKaplan MJMahajan ASingh JMunoz LEKnopf JNeeli IAnders HJVandenabeele PKubes PNg LGDaniel Cvan der Vlag JSchett GLeppkes MHerrmann MNarasaraju TYanginlar CHidalgo AYousefi SRadic MZSimon HUvon Kockritz-Blickwede MBowlin GLMaugeri NAckermann MRitis KHenneck TKnight JSDe Lorenzo RNaschberger EHoffmann MSchapher MfalsePatients with COVID-19: in the dark-NETs of neutrophils.SARS-CoV-2 infection poses a major threat to the lungs and multiple other organs, occasionally causing death. Until effective vaccines are developed to curb the pandemic, it is paramount to define the mechanisms and develop protective therapies to prevent organ dysfunction in patients with COVID-19. Individuals that develop severe manifestations have signs of dysregulated innate and adaptive immune responses. Emerging evidence implicates neutrophils and the disbalance between neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation and degradation plays a central role in the pathophysiology of inflammation, coagulopathy, organ damage, and immunothrombosis that characterize severe cases of COVID-19. Here, we discuss the evidence supporting a role for NETs in COVID-19 manifestations and present putativ2021-01-01T00:00:00Z2021 Nov2026-07-14T13:27:36.144Z2022-02-11T12:51:08.078ZS-EPMC81422903403154310.1038/s41418-021-00805-z