Study on the pro-inflammatory effects of neutrophil extracellular traps in patients with liver failure

Yang Shixin; Shi Chunxia; Guo Jin; Zhang Danmei; Zhang Qingqi; Gong Zuojiong

doi:10.3760/j.issn.1673-4777.2024.04.016

Abstract：Objective To investigate the pro-inflammatory effect of neutrophil extracellular traps(NETs)in patients with liver failure and the pathogenic role of NETosis in the process of liver inflammation in liver failure.Methods A total of 30 patients with liver failure treated in Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University from October 2020 to February 2022 were selected as the observation group,and 30 healthy people in the same period were selected as the control group.The serum biochemical indexes of the two groups were compared.The concentration of myeloperoxidase(MPO)-DNA in serum was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA),and the levels of MPO and neutrophil elastase(NE)in neutrophils were detected by immunofluorescence method.MPO levels in donor livers and liver failure patients were detected by immunohistochemical staining.Results The prothrombin activity and albumin level in the observation group were lower than those in the control group,and the percentage of neutrophils,and the levels of total bilirubin,alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase in the observation group were higher than those in the control group(all P＜0.05).The results of ELISA showed that the level of MPO-DNA in the observation group was higher than that in the control group[(10.0±2.7)μg/L vs(3.4±1.0)μg/L](P＜0.001).Immunofluorescence results showed that the expression levels of NE and MPO in peripheral blood neutrophils in the observation group were higher than those in the control group.The results of immunohistochemical staining showed that the expression level of MPO in liver tissues of liver failure patients was higher than that in donor liver tissues.Conclusion In liver failure,neutrophils are activated to produce NETs,which promote liver inflammation through NETosis and aggravate liver injury.