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Updated: May 19, 2026

Neutrophil Extracellular Traps: How to Generate and Visualize Them
Published on: February 24, 2010
Neutrophil extracellular traps in sterile inflammation: the story after dying?
Bei-Bei Cui1, Chun-Yu Tan, Christine Schorn
1Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China.
Abstract:
Evidences accumulated that the death of neutrophils are not the end of their missions. The neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), web-like structure, formed after neutrophils dying contribute greatly to immune defense, in both innate and adaptive immunity. Interestingly, previous studies revealed that the generation and activation of NETs do not only rely on bacteria induction, but also in patients with sterile inflammatory diseases, implying an undeniable correlation between NETs and these diseases. This review summarized the latest findings that the crucial roles of NETs in sterile inflammatory diseases, as well as novel targeted therapy based on these new discoveries.
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