Fostamatinib Inhibits Neutrophils Extracellular Traps Induced by COVID-19 Patient Plasma: A Potential Therapeutic.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Strich JR
PROVIDER: S-EPMC7799006 | biostudies-literature |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Project description:Background: Cases of excessive neutrophil counts in the blood in severe coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients have drawn significant attention. Neutrophil infiltration was also noted on the pathological findings from autopsies. It is urgent to clarify the pathogenesis of neutrophils leading to severe pneumonia in COVID-19. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on 55 COVID-19 patients classified as mild (n = 22), moderate (n = 25), and severe (n = 8) according to the Guidelines released by the National Health Commission of China. Trends relating leukocyte counts and lungs examined by chest CT scan were quantified by Bayesian inference. Transcriptional signatures of host immune cells of four COVID19 patients were analyzed by RNA sequencing of lung specimens and BALF. Results: Neutrophilia occurred in 6 of 8 severe patients at 7-19 days after symptom onset, coinciding with lesion progression. Increasing neutrophil counts paralleled lesion CT values (slope: 0.8 and 0.3-1.2), reflecting neutrophilia-induced lung injury in severe patients. Transcriptome analysis revealed that neutrophil activation was correlated with 17 neutrophil extracellular trap (NET)-associated genes in COVID-19 patients, which was related to innate immunity and interacted with T/NK/B cells, as supported by a protein-protein interaction network analysis. Conclusion: Excessive neutrophils and associated NETs could explain the pathogenesis of lung injury in COVID-19 pneumonia.
| S-EPMC7461898 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a virus-induced respiratory disease that may progress to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and is triggered by immunopathological mechanisms that cause excessive inflammation and leukocyte dysfunction. Neutrophils play a critical function in the clearance of bacteria with specific mechanisms to combat viruses. The aim of this review is to highlight the current advances in the pathways of neutrophilic inflammation against viral infection over the past ten years, focusing on the production of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) and its impact on severe lung diseases, such as COVID-19. We focused on studies regarding hyperinflammation, cytokine storms, neutrophil function, and viral infections. We discuss how the neutrophil's role could influence COVID-19 symptoms in the interaction between hyperinflammation (overproduction of NETs and cytokines) and the clearance function of neutrophils to eliminate the viral infection. We also propose a more in-depth investigation into the neutrophil response mechanism targeting NETosis in the different phases of COVID-19.
| S-EPMC7732408 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Equilibrium within the immune system can often determine the fate of its host. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the pathogen responsible for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Immune dysregulation remains one of the main pathophysiological components of SARS-CoV-2-associated organ injury, with over-activation of the innate immune system, and induced apoptosis of adaptive immune cells. Here, we provide an overview of the innate immune system, both in general and relating to COVID-19. We specifically discuss "NETosis," the process of neutrophil release of their extracellular traps, which may be a more recently described form of cell death that is different from apoptosis, and how this may propagate organ dysfunction in COVID-19. We complete this review by discussing Stem Cell Therapies in COVID-19 and emerging COVID-19 phenotypes, which may allow for more targeted therapy in the future. Finally, we consider the array of potential therapeutic targets in COVID-19, and associated therapeutics.
| S-EPMC8416266 | biostudies-literature
Project description: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.
| S-EPMC7161085 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Host innate immunity is fundamental to the resistance against Candida albicans and Candida glabrata infection, two of the most important agents contributing to human fungal infections. Phagocytic cells, such as neutrophils, constitute the first line of host defense mechanisms, and the release of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) represent an important strategy to immobilize and to kill invading microorganisms, arresting the establishment of infection. The purinergic system operates an important role in the homeostasis of immunity and inflammation, and ectophosphatase and ectonucleotidase activities are recognized as essential for survival strategies and infectious potential of several pathogens. The expression and unique activity of a 3'-nucleotidase/nuclease (3'NT/NU), able to hydrolyze not only AMP but also nucleic acids, has been considered as part of a possible mechanism of microbes to escape from NETs. The aim of the present study was to evaluate if yeasts escape from the NET-mediated killing through their 3'NT/NU enzymatic activity contributing to NET-hydrolysis. After demonstrating the presence of 3'NT/NU activity in C. albicans, C. glabrata, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we show that, during neutrophils-Candida interaction, when NETs formation and release are triggered, NETs digestion occurs and this process of NETs disruption promoted by yeast cells was prevented by ammonium tetrathiomolybdate (TTM), a 3'NT/NU inhibitor. In conclusion, although the exact nature and specificity of yeasts ectonucleotidases are not completely unraveled, we highlight the importance of these enzymes in the context of infection, helping yeasts to overcome host defenses, whereby C. albicans and C. glabrata can escape NET-mediate killing through their 3'NT/NU activity.
| S-EPMC8313894 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) consist of decondensed nuclear chromatin that is associated with proteins and are released by neutrophils during an inflammatory response. Released NETs are able to capture pathogens, prevent their dissemination and potentially kill them via antimicrobial peptides and proteins that are associated with the decondensed chromatin. In addition to their antimicrobial functions, NETs have also been shown to exert immunomodulatory effects by activation and differentiation of macrophages, dendritic cells and T cells. However, the effect of NETs on neutrophil functions is poorly understood. Here we report the first comprehensive study regarding the effects of NETs on human primary neutrophils in vitro. NETs were isolated from cultures of PMA-exposed neutrophils. Exposure of neutrophils to isolated NETs resulted in the activation of several neutrophil functions in a concentration-dependent manner. NETs induced exocytosis of granules, the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by the NADPH oxidase NOX2, NOX2-dependent NET formation, increased the phagocytosis and killing of microbial pathogens. Furthermore, NETs induced the secretion of the proinflammatory chemokine IL-8 and the B-cell-activating cytokine BAFF. We could show that the NET-induced activation of neutrophils occurs by pathways that involve the phosphorylation of Akt, ERK1/2 and p38. Taken together our results provide further insights into the proinflammatory role of NETs by activating neutrophil effector function and further supports the view that NETs can amplify inflammatory events. On the one hand the amplified functions enhance the antimicrobial defense. On the other hand, NET-amplified neutrophil functions can be involved in the pathophysiology of NET-associated diseases. In addition, NETs can connect the innate and adaptive immune system by inducing the secretion of the B-cell-activating cytokine BAFF.
| S-EPMC8217666 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundCOVID-19 is characterized by severe acute lung injury, which is associated with neutrophil infiltration and the release of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). COVID-19 treatment options are scarce. Previous work has shown an increase in NETs release in the lung and plasma of COVID-19 patients suggesting that drugs that prevent NETs formation or release could be potential therapeutic approaches for COVID-19 treatment.MethodsHere, we report the efficacy of NET-degrading DNase I treatment in a murine model of COVID-19. SARS-CoV-2-infected K18-hACE2 mice were performed for clinical sickness scores and lung pathology. Moreover, the levels of NETs were assessed and lung injuries were by histopathology and TUNEL assay. Finally, the injury in the heart and kidney was assessed by histopathology and biochemical-specific markers.ResultsDNase I decreased detectable levels of NETs, improved clinical disease, and reduced lung, heart, and kidney injuries in SARS-CoV-2-infected K18-hACE2 mice. Furthermore, our findings indicate a potentially deleterious role for NETs lung tissue in vivo and lung epithelial (A549) cells in vitro, which might explain part of the pathophysiology of severe COVID-19. This deleterious effect was diminished by the treatment with DNase I.ConclusionsTogether, our results support the role of NETs in COVID-19 immunopathology and highlight NETs disruption pharmacological approaches as a potential strategy to ameliorate COVID-19 clinical outcomes.
| S-EPMC9978286 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Our understanding of immune recognition and response to infection and non-infectious forms of cell damage and death is rapidly increasing. The major focus is on host immunity and microbiological invasion. However, it is also clear that these same pathways are important in the initiation and maintenance of autoimmunity and the damage caused to targeted organs. Understanding the involvement of cell death in autoimmune disease is likely to help define critical pathways in the immunopathogenesis of autoimmune disease and new therapeutic targets. An important immune responder cell population in host defense and autoimmunity is the neutrophil. One autoimmune disease where neutrophils play important roles is MPO-ANCA Microscopic Vasculitis. This a severe disease that results from inflammation to small blood vessels in the kidney, the glomeruli (high blood flow and pressure filters). One of the best studied ways in which neutrophils participate in this disease is by cell death through NETosis resulting in the discharge of proinflammatory enzymes and nuclear fragments. In host defense against infection this process helps neutralize pathogens however in auto immunity NETosis results in injury and death to the surrounding healthy tissues. The major autoimmune target in this disease is myeloperoxidase (MPO) which is found uniquely in the cytoplasm of neutrophils. Although the kidney is the major organ targeted in this disease MPO is not expressed in the kidney. Autoantibodies target surface MPO on activated circulating neutrophils resulting in their lodgment in glomerular capillaries where they NETose releasing extracellularly MPO and nuclear fragments initiating injury and planting the key autoantigen MPO. It is the cell death of neutrophils that changes the kidney from innocent bystander to major autoimmune target. Defining the immunopathogenesis of this autoimmune disease and recognizing critical injurious pathways will allow therapeutic intervention to block these pathways and attenuate autoimmune injury. The insights (regarding mechanisms of injury and potential therapeutic targets) are likely to be highly relevant to many other autoimmune diseases.
| S-EPMC8005609 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundRecent evidence suggests a merging role of immunothrombosis in the formation of arterial thrombosis. Our study aims to investigate its relevance in stroke patients.MethodsWe compared the peripheral immunological profile of stroke patients vs. healthy controls. Serum samples were functionally analyzed for their formation and clearance of Neutrophil-Extracellular-Traps. The composition of retrieved thrombi has been immunologically analyzed.ResultsPeripheral blood of stroke patients showed significantly elevated levels of DNAse-I (p < 0.001), LDG (p = 0.003), CD4 (p = 0.005) as well as the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-17 (p < 0.001), INF-γ (p < 0.001) and IL-22 (p < 0.001) compared to controls, reflecting a TH1/TH17 response. Increased counts of DNAse-I in sera (p = 0.045) and Neutrophil-Extracellular-Traps in thrombi (p = 0.032) have been observed in patients with onset time of symptoms longer than 4,5 h. Lower values of CD66b in thrombi were independently associated with greater improvement of NIHSS after mechanical thrombectomy (p = 0.045). Stroke-derived neutrophils show higher potential for Neutrophil-Extracellular-Traps formation after stimulation and worse resolution under DNAse-I treatment compared to neutrophils derived from healthy individuals.ConclusionsOur data provide new insight in the role of activated neutrophils and Neutrophil-Extracellular-Traps in ischemic stroke. Future larger studies are warranted to further investigate the role of immunothrombosis in the cascades of stroke.Trial registrationDRKS, DRKS00013278, Registered 15 November 2017, https://www.drks.de/drks_web/navigate.do?navigationId=trial.HTML&TRIAL_ID=DRKS00013278.
| S-EPMC9121602 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The inflammatory microenvironment is commonly characterized by extracellular acidosis (pH < 7.35). Sensitivity to pH, CO2 or bicarbonate concentrations allows neutrophils to react to changes in their environment and to detect inflamed areas in the tissue. One important antimicrobial effector mechanism is the production of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), which are released during a programmed reactive oxygen species (ROS)-dependent cell death, the so-called NETosis. Although several functions of neutrophils have been analyzed under acidic conditions, the effect of extracellular acidosis on NETosis remains mainly unexplored and the available experimental results are contradictory. We performed a comprehensive study with the aim to elucidate the effect of extracellular acidosis on ROS-dependent NETosis of primary human neutrophils and to identify the underlying mechanisms. The study was performed in parallel in a CO2-bicabonate-buffered culture medium, which mimics in vivo conditions, and under HEPES-buffered conditions to verify the effect of pH independent of CO2 or bicarbonate. We could clearly show that extracellular acidosis (pH 6.5, 6.0, and 5.5) and intracellular acidification inhibit the release of ROS-dependent NETs upon stimulation of neutrophils with phorbol myristate acetate and immobilized immune complexes. Moreover, our findings suggest that the diminished NET release is a consequence of reduced ROS production and diminished glycolysis of neutrophils under acidic conditions. It was suggested previously that neutrophils can sense the border of inflamed tissue by the pH gradient and that a drop in pH serves as an indicator for the progress of inflammation. Following this hypothesis, our data indicate that an acidic inflammatory environment results in inhibition of extracellular operating effector mechanisms of neutrophils such as release of ROS and NETs. This way the release of toxic components and tissue damage can be avoided. However, we observed that major antimicrobial effector mechanisms such as phagocytosis and the killing of pathogens by neutrophils remain functional under acidic conditions.
| S-EPMC5329032 | biostudies-literature