Cited by 1,486Neutrophil, Myeloperoxidase and Oxidative MechanismsCOVID-19 Clinical Research StudiesInflammation biomarkers and pathways

Targeting potential drivers of COVID-19: Neutrophil extracellular traps

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Barnes, Betsy J., Adrover, Jose M., Baxter-Stoltzfus, Amelia, Borczuk, Alain, Cools-Lartigue, Jonathan, Crawford, James M., Daßler-Plenker, Juliane, Guerci, Philippe +15 more·2020·Journal of Experimental Medicine

Abstract

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.

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Authors
Barnes, B. J., Adrover, J. M., Baxter-Stoltzfus, A., Borczuk, A., Cools-Lartigue, J., Crawford, J. M., Daßler-Plenker, J., Guerci, P., Huynh, C., Knight, J. S., Loda, M., Looney, M. R., McAllister, F., Rayes, R., Renaud, S., Rousseau, S., Salvatore, S., Schwartz, R. E., Spicer, J. D., Yost, C. C., Weber, A., Zuo, Y., & Egeblad, M.
Affiliations
  • Feinstein Institute for Medical Research (US)
  • Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 2
  • Weill Cornell Medicine (US)
  • Division of Thoracic and Upper GI Surgery, Department of Surgery, Montreal, Canada 4
  • Hofstra University (US)
  • Centre Hospitalier Régional et Universitaire de Nancy (FR)
  • McGill University (CA)
  • University of Michigan (US)
  • University of California, San Francisco (US)
  • The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (US)
  • Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nancy, Nancy, France 6
  • Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (CA)
  • University of Utah (US)
  • Northwell Health (US)
  • Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (US)
Corresponding author
  • Barnes, Betsy J.
  • Egeblad, Mikala
Venue
Journal of Experimental Medicine
Published
2020-04-16
Volume
217
Issue
6
ISSN
  • 0022-1007 (ISSN-L)
  • 1540-9538
OpenAlex
W3016393661
Cited by
1,486
References
84
Citations by year
2026: 34 · 2025: 70 · 2024: 124 · 2023: 150 · 2022: 288 · 2021: 438 · 2020: 378 · 2014: 1 · 2012: 1
FWCI
110.17
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • The Journal of Experimental Medicine (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-sa)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-sa)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Institutional Repository (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) (acceptedVersion)
  • eScholarship@McGill (McGill) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (5p30ca045508-35)
  • National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (R01HL130324, R01HL134846)
  • National Cancer Institute (P30-CA045508)
  • National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (R01AI125445)
  • National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (R01DK121072)
  • National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (R01AR076242)
  • Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (R01HD093826)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › Neutrophil, Myeloperoxidase and Oxidative Mechanisms
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › COVID-19 Clinical Research Studies
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › Inflammation biomarkers and pathways
Keywords
COVID-19 pandemic, neutrophil extracellular traps, neutrophils, acute respiratory distress syndrome, cytokine storm, lung infiltration, organ damage, thrombosis, airway mucus secretion, targeted drug delivery, autopsy findings
MeSH terms
Betacoronavirus, COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Humans, Lung Diseases, Neutrophils, Pneumonia, Viral, Cytokines, Coronavirus Infections, Pandemics, Extracellular Traps

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