[Progress of neutrophil extracellular traps in airway inflammation of acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome: Review].

Acute lung injury (ALI) or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is defined as pulmonary diffuse inflammatory injury characterized by acute onset and progressive exacerbation, which is caused by various factors and leads to respiratory insufficiency or respiratory failure eventually. In response to a variety of stimulis, activated neutrophils can release many components including genomic DNA, histones, myeloperoxidase, neutrophil elastase, citrullinated histones, and cathepsins to the inflammatory environment. All the above substances constitute a fibrous meshwork that is named neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). The overproduction of the NETs is involved in the inflammatory injury in lung tissues. We reviewed the basic features of NETs and its generation mechanism as well as regulatory role in lung inflammation. Besides, we analyzed the components and celluar singal pathway involed in the formation of NETs in order to find appropriate therapeutic targets, which would shed light on developing potential drugs and designing new strategies.