title: [Discovery of the neutrophil extracellular traps begins a new stage in the study of neutrophil morphogenesis and function].
abstract: The purpose of the present review was to analyze the accumulating evidence regarding recently discovered novel defense mechanism of neutrophils - capacity to form neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). Contact with pathogenic microbes and/or exposure to proinflammatory cytokines trigger the respiratory burst in the neutrophils with a subsequent initiation of a cell death (NETosis) which differs from apoptosis and necrosis. NETs are formed by the fibrils of decondensed chromatin (DNA/ histones), released from the neutrophil, which is closely associated with the antimicrobial proteins of cytoplasmic granules. Due to its three-dimensional structure, NETs are capable of retaining the microorganisms (bacteria, fungi and protozoa), while high local concentration of the antimicrobial substances provides their killing. The review presents the evidence of a potential defensive role of NETs in infectious diseases, traumas and surgical operations, as well as during the early stage of a repair process. Considering the role played by neutrophils in the immune response orientation via pentraxin-3 (PTX3), including the switching to adaptive immunity, it is necessary to study the subsequent interaction of DNA/histone exrtacellular structures with the tissue microenvironment.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Perova
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Shubich
mesh_terms: D016923:Cell Death; D005110:Extracellular Space / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D009024:Morphogenesis; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology