Deoxyribonuclease is a potential counter regulator of aberrant neutrophil extracellular traps formation after major trauma.
BACKGROUND
Neutrophil extracellular traps (NET) consist of a DNA scaffold that can be destroyed by Deoxyribonuclease (DNase). Thus DNases are potential prerequisites for natural counter regulation of NETs formation. In the present study, we determined the relationship of NETs and DNase after major trauma.


METHODS
Thirty-nine major trauma patients, 14 with and 25 without sepsis development were enrolled in this prospective study. Levels of cell-free (cf)-DNA/NETs and DNase were quantified daily from admission until day 9 after admission.


RESULTS
Levels of cf-DNA/NETs in patients who developed sepsis were significantly increased after trauma. In the early septic phase, DNase values in septic patients were significantly increased compared to patients without sepsis (P < 0.05). cf-DNA/NETs values correlated to values of DNase in all trauma patients and patients with uneventful recovery (P < 0.01) but not in septic patients. Recombinant DNase efficiently degraded NETs released by stimulated neutrophils in a concentration-dependent manner in vitro.


CONCLUSIONS
DNase degrades NETs in a concentration-dependent manner and therefore could have a potential regulatory effect on NET formation in neutrophils. This may inhibit the antibacterial effects of NETs or protect the tissue from autodestruction in inadequate NETs release in septic patients.
Department of Trauma and Hand Surgery, University Hospital Dusseldorf, 40225 Dusseldorf, Germany.
Wei
W
Meng
Adnana
A
Paunel-Görgülü
Sascha
S
Flohé
Ingo
I
Witte
Michael
M
Schädel-Höpfner
Joachim
J
Windolf
Tim Tobias
TT
Lögters
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D003850:Deoxyribonuclease I / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018805:Sepsis / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D055815:Young Adult
D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D004247:DNA; D003850:Deoxyribonuclease I