An Emerging Role of Extracellular Traps in Chronic Rhinosinusitis

Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. 2023 Dec;23(12):675-688. doi: 10.1007/s11882-023-01082-1. Epub 2023 Nov 7.

Abstract

Purpose of review: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a complicated, heterogeneous disease likely caused by inflammatory and infectious factors. There is clear evidence that innate immune cells, including neutrophils and eosinophils, play a significant role in CRS. Multiple immune cells, including neutrophils and eosinophils, have been shown to release chromatin and granular proteins into the extracellular space in response to triggering extracellular traps (ETs). The formation of ETs remains controversial due to their critical function during pathogen clearance while being associated with harmful inflammatory illnesses. This article summarizes recent research on neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) and eosinophil extracellular traps (EETs) and their possible significance in the pathophysiology of CRS.

Recent findings: A novel type of programmed cell death called ETosis, which releases ETs, has been proposed by recent study. Significantly more NETs are presented in nasal polyps, and its granule proteins LL-37 induce NETs production in CRS with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) patients. Similar to NETs, developed in the tissue of nasal polyps, primarily in subepithelial regions with epithelial barrier defects, and are associated with linked to elevated tissue levels of IL-5 and S. aureus colonization. This article provides a comprehensive overview of NETs and EETs, as well as an in-depth understanding of the functions of these ETs in CRS.

Keywords: Chronic rhinosinusitis; Eosinophil extracellular traps; Extracellular traps; Neutrophil extracellular traps.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Chronic Disease
  • Eosinophils
  • Extracellular Traps* / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Nasal Polyps*
  • Neutrophils / pathology
  • Rhinitis*
  • Rhinosinusitis*
  • Sinusitis*
  • Staphylococcus aureus