Title | Targeting potential drivers of COVID-19: Neutrophil extracellular traps. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2020 |
Authors | Barnes BJ, Adrover JM, Baxter-Stoltzfus A, Borczuk A, Cools-Lartigue J, Crawford JM, Daßler-Plenker J, Guerci P, Huynh C, Knight JS, Loda M, Looney MR, McAllister F, Rayes R, Renaud S, Rousseau S, Salvatore S, Schwartz RE, Spicer JD, Yost CC, Weber A, Zuo Y, Egeblad M |
Journal | J Exp Med |
Volume | 217 |
Issue | 6 |
Date Published | 2020 06 01 |
ISSN | 1540-9538 |
Keywords | Betacoronavirus, Coronavirus Infections, COVID-19, Cytokines, Extracellular Traps, Humans, Lung Diseases, Neutrophils, Pandemics, Pneumonia, Viral, SARS-CoV-2 |
Abstract | Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a novel, viral-induced respiratory disease that in ∼10-15% of patients progresses to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) triggered by a cytokine storm. In this Perspective, autopsy results and literature are presented supporting the hypothesis that a little known yet powerful function of neutrophils-the ability to form neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs)-may contribute to organ damage and mortality in COVID-19. We show lung infiltration of neutrophils in an autopsy specimen from a patient who succumbed to COVID-19. We discuss prior reports linking aberrant NET formation to pulmonary diseases, thrombosis, mucous secretions in the airways, and cytokine production. If our hypothesis is correct, targeting NETs directly and/or indirectly with existing drugs may reduce the clinical severity of COVID-19. |
DOI | 10.1084/jem.20200652 |
Alternate Journal | J Exp Med |
PubMed ID | 32302401 |
PubMed Central ID | PMC7161085 |
Grant List | R01 HL130324 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States R01 CA234614 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States R01 HD093826 / HD / NICHD NIH HHS / United States R01 AR076242 / AR / NIAMS NIH HHS / United States P30 CA045508 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States R01 DK121072 / DK / NIDDK NIH HHS / United States |
Related Faculty:
Massimo Loda, M.D. Steven P. Salvatore, M.D.