Axenic Amastigotes Induce Human Neutrophil Extracellular Traps and Resist NET-Mediated Killing.

Neutrophils are multifaceted cells that, upon activation, release meshes of chromatin associated with different proteins, known as neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). promastigotes and amastigotes induce NET release, and we have identified the signaling pathways involved in NET extrusion activated by promastigotes. Amastigotes maintain the infection in vertebrate hosts, and we have shown the association of NETs with amastigotes in human biopsies of cutaneous leishmaniasis.