The Role of Neutrophil Extracellular Traps in Central Nervous System Diseases and Prospects for Clinical Application

Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are complexes of decondensed DNA fibers and antimicrobial peptides that are released by neutrophils and play important roles in many noninfectious diseases, such as cystic fibrosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, diabetes, and cancer. Recently, the formation of NETs has been detected in many central nervous system diseases and is thought to play different roles in the occurrence and development of these diseases. Researchers have detected NETs in acute ischemic stroke thrombi, and these NETs are thought to promote coagulation and thrombosis. NETs in ischemic brain parenchyma were identified as the cause of secondary nerve damage. High levels of NETs were also detected in grade IV glioma tissues, where NETs were involved in the proliferation and invasion of glioma cells by activating a signaling pathway. Extracellular web-like structures have also recently been observed in mice with traumatic brain injury (TBI), and it was hypothesized that NETs contribute to the development of edema after TBI. This article reviews the effect of NETs on multiple diseases that affect the CNS and explores their clinical application prospects.