Eosinophil extracellular traps in asthma: implications for pathogenesis and therapy

Kunlu Shen; Mengyuan Zhang; Ruiheng Zhao; Yun Li; Chunxiao Li; Xin Hou; Bingqing Sun; Bowen Liu; Min Xiang; Jiangtao Lin

doi:10.1186/s12931-023-02504-4

Eosinophil extracellular traps in asthma: implications for pathogenesis and therapy

Respir Res. 2023 Sep 26;24(1):231. doi: 10.1186/s12931-023-02504-4.

Authors

Kunlu Shen^{1

2}, Mengyuan Zhang^{1

2}, Ruiheng Zhao^{1

3}, Yun Li^{1

3}, Chunxiao Li^{1

4}, Xin Hou^{1

4}, Bingqing Sun^{1

2}, Bowen Liu^{1

3}, Min Xiang^{1

3}, Jiangtao Lin^{5

6

7

8}

Affiliations

¹ National Center for Respiratory Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases, Institute of Respiratory Medicine, Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Center of Respiratory Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Friendship Hospital, No.2, East Yinghua Road, Chaoyang District, 100029, Beijing, China.
² Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
³ Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.
⁴ Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China.
⁵ National Center for Respiratory Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Diseases, Institute of Respiratory Medicine, Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Center of Respiratory Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Friendship Hospital, No.2, East Yinghua Road, Chaoyang District, 100029, Beijing, China. Jiangtao_l@263.net.
⁶ Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China. Jiangtao_l@263.net.
⁷ Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China. Jiangtao_l@263.net.
⁸ Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing, China. Jiangtao_l@263.net.

Abstract

Asthma is a common, chronic inflammatory disease of the airways that affects millions of people worldwide and is associated with significant healthcare costs. Eosinophils, a type of immune cell, play a critical role in the development and progression of asthma. Eosinophil extracellular traps (EETs) are reticular structures composed of DNA, histones, and granulins that eosinophils form and release into the extracellular space as part of the innate immune response. EETs have a protective effect by limiting the migration of pathogens and antimicrobial activity to a controlled range. However, chronic inflammation can lead to the overproduction of EETs, which can trigger and exacerbate allergic asthma. In this review, we examine the role of EETs in asthma.

Keywords: Anti-EETs; Asthma; EETs; Eosinophil extracellular trap cell death; Eosinophil extracellular traps; Therapeutics.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Asthma* / therapy
Eosinophils
Extracellular Traps*
Health Care Costs
Histones
Humans

Substances

Histones