Neutrophil extracellular traps and pulmonary fibrosis: an update

Abstract

Highlights 1. This review focuses on NETs formation and the role of NETs in PF and presents research progress. 2. We describe specific mechanisms by which NETs induce PF in fibroblasts while revealing the transduction mechanisms that remain to be investigated. 3. We explore the possible consequences of NETs action on lung epithelial cells, including NETs-induced lung epithelial damage and NETs-driven epithelial mesenchymal transition. 4. We introduce recent key findings about the role of NETs-mediated chronic inflammation in PF and the effect of autophagy-driven production of NETs in fibrosis.

Keywords

• Pulmonary fibrosis
• Neutrophil extracellular traps
• Interstitial lung disease