Reduction of NETosis by targeting CXCR1/2 reduces thrombosis, lung injury, and mortality in experimental human and murine sepsis.

Background: Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) facilitate bacterial clearance but also promote thrombosis and organ injury in sepsis. We quantified ex vivo NET induction in septic humans and murine models of sepsis to identify signalling pathways that may be modulated to improve outcome in human sepsis.

Methods: NET formation in human donor neutrophils was quantified after incubation with plasma obtained from patients with sepsis or systemic inflammation (double-blinded assessment of extracellular DNA using immunofluorescence microscopy).