title: Understanding the molecular mechanisms of NETs and their role in antiviral innate immunity.
abstract: Polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) are the most abundant cells in the context of innate immunity; they are one of the first cells to arrive at the site of viral infection constituting the first line of defense in response to invading pathogens. Indeed, neutrophils are provided with several defense mechanisms including release of cytokines, cytotoxic granules and the last recently described neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). The main components of NETs are DNA, granular antimicrobial peptides, and nuclear and cytoplasmic proteins, that together play an important role in the innate immune response. While NETs were first described as a mechanism against bacteria and fungi, recently, several studies are beginning to elucidate how NETs are involved in the host antiviral response and the prominent characteristics of this new mechanism are discussed in the present review.
authors.affiliation: Unidad Académica de Ciencias Químico Biológicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Autónoma de Nayarit, Tepic, Nayarit, Mexico. Electronic address: jumaagci@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Juan Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Agraz-Cibrian
authors.affiliation: Grupo Inmunovirología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia UdeA, Calle 70 No. 52-21, Medellín, Colombia. Electronic address: diana2g@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Diana M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Giraldo
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Inmunología, Departamento de Fisiología, CUCS, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. Electronic address: mfafutis@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Fafutis-Morris
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Mary
authors.affiliation: Grupo Inmunovirología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia UdeA, Calle 70 No. 52-21, Medellín, Colombia. Electronic address: silviourcuqui@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Silvio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Urcuqui-Inchima
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D060467:Disease Resistance / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D065206:Extracellular Traps / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology*; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007249:Inflammation / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000502:physiology* / Q000821:virology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D018836:Inflammation Mediators
keywords: Cytokines; Inflammation; Innate response; Neutrophil extracellular traps; Virus