Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 3, 2026

08:08
In Vitro Stimulation and Visualization of Extracellular Trap Release in Differentiated Human Monocyte-derived Macrophages
Published on: November 1, 2019
10.6K
Human blood monocytes are able to form extracellular traps
Vanessa Granger1,2, Dorothée Faille3, Vanessa Marani1
1Unité mixte de Recherche 996-Inflammation, Chemokines and Immunopathology, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Université Paris Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, Châtenay-Malabry, France.
Journal of Leukocyte Biology
|May 4, 2017
Summary
Human monocytes release extracellular traps (ETs), similar to neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). These monocyte-derived ETs show procoagulant activity and may play a role in thrombosis and inflammatory diseases.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
- Hematology
Background:
- Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are DNA structures released by neutrophils during activation, primarily linked to antimicrobial defense.
- Emerging evidence implicates NETs in various pathologies, including thrombosis, autoimmune disorders, and cancer.
- The role of other immune cells in releasing similar extracellular structures remains largely unexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the capacity of human monocytes to release extracellular traps (ETs).
- To characterize the composition and functional properties of monocyte-derived ETs.
- To compare monocyte ET release mechanisms with those of neutrophils.
Main Methods:
- Isolation and purification of human blood monocytes.
- Stimulation of monocytes with various agents to induce ET release.
- Morphological and biochemical analysis of monocyte-derived ETs (mETs).
- Assessment of mET procoagulant activity and dependence on oxidative burst and myeloperoxidase (MPO).
Main Results:
- Human monocytes can release extracellular traps (mETs) analogous in morphology to NETs.
- mETs contain key components such as myeloperoxidase (MPO), lactoferrin (LF), citrullinated histones, and elastase.
- Monocyte ET release is dependent on the oxidative burst but not MPO activity.
- Monocyte-derived ETs exhibit significant procoagulant activity.
Conclusions:
- Monocytes possess a previously unrecognized mechanism for releasing extracellular traps.
- These mETs share characteristics with NETs but differ in their MPO-independent release mechanism.
- The procoagulant nature of mETs suggests a potential role in monocyte-associated thrombotic events.
- This finding broadens the understanding of ETs beyond neutrophils and implicates monocytes in pathological processes like thrombosis and inflammation.

