Open AccessNeutrophil Extracellular Traps and Liver Disease
Author(s) -
Moira Hilscher,
Vijay H. Shah
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
seminars in liver disease
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.874
H-Index - 126
eISSN - 1098-8971
pISSN - 0272-8087
DOI - 10.1055/s-0039-3399562
Subject(s) - neutrophil extracellular traps , extracellular , pathogenesis , immune system , disease , liver disease , immunology , histone , autoimmune disease , medicine , biology , cancer research , dna , inflammation , pathology , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics
Neutrophil extracellular traps, or NETs, are heterogenous, filamentous structures which consist of extracellular DNA, granular proteins, and histones. NETs are extruded by a neutrophil in response to various stimuli. Although NETs were initially implicated in immune defense, subsequent studies have implicated NETs in a spectrum of disease processes, including autoimmune disease, thrombosis, and cancer. NETs also contribute to the pathogenesis of several common liver diseases, including alcohol-associated liver disease and portal hypertension. Although there is much interest in the therapeutic potential of NET inhibition, future clinical applications must be balanced against potential increased risk of infection.