NET-targeted therapy: effects, limitations, and potential strategies to enhance treatment efficacy
Caio Santos Bonilha1, Flavio Protasio Veras2, Fernando de Queiroz Cunha3
1Center for Research in Inflammatory Diseases, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo 14049-900, Brazil; Institute of Infection, Immunity, and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8TA, UK.
Abstract:
Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are complex structures released by activated neutrophils during inflammatory responses. Due to their unique potential for causing tissue damage and modulating immune responses, there is increasing interest in studying these structures as potential targets for the treatment of infectious diseases, autoimmune diseases, and cancer. However, therapeutic targeting of NETs might trigger deleterious effects that may limit treatment efficacy. NET disruption may increase the microbial load in infection; in autoimmunity, NET targeting might impair peripheral tolerance, but it might reduce adaptive immune responses in cancer. In this review, we explore the therapeutic and deleterious effects of NET-targeted therapy while shedding light on novel strategies to overcome treatment-related limitations and enhance treatment efficacy.
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