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Updated: Jun 28, 2025

Morphological and Compositional Analysis of Neutrophil Extracellular Traps Induced by Microbial and Chemical Stimuli
Published on: November 4, 2022
Saikosaponin a promotes neutrophil extracellular trap formation and bactericidal activity
Lanqiu Zhang1, Zhengwei Hu2, Lei Yang1
1Tianjin Nankai Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.
Abstract:
This study aimed to investigate the effects of SSa, one of the major triterpenoid saponins extracted from Radix bupleuri, on neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation and the mechanism associated with this process. Using Sytox green and immunofluorescence assays, we found SSa rapidly induced NET formation, which depended on NADPH oxidase (NOX)-independent ROS production and autophagy. Pharmacologic inhibitor studies indicated that ERK and PI3K/AKT signalling were also required for SSa-induced NET formation, whereas protein arginine deiminase 4 (PAD4) was not required. Furthermore, we found that SSa promoted neutrophil bactericidal activity mainly through NET formation. Based on flow cytometry and the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assays, the results demonstrated that SSa-induced NET formation occurred without neutrophil death. Taken together, these findings indicated that SSa could be a potential natural product to boost innate immune defense against pathogen attack via NET formation.
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