Neutrophil Extracellular Traps: Current Perspectives in the Eye

Abstract

Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) have been the subject of research in the field of innate immunity since their first description more than a decade ago. Neutrophils are the first cells recruited at sites of inflammation, where they perform their specific functions, including the release of NETs, which consist of web-like structures composed of granule proteins bound to decondensed chromatin fibres. This process has aroused interest, as it contributes to understanding how pathogenic microorganisms are contained, but they are also associated with pathophysiological processes of a wide range of diseases. Currently, there are growing reports of new molecules involved in the formation and release of NETs. However, whether the release of NETs contributes to eye diseases remains unclear. For this reason, the overall aim of this review is to gather current data of recent research in the ophthalmology field, where there is still much to discover.