ROS induces NETosis by oxidizing DNA and initiating DNA repair

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are essential for neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation or NETosis. This paper investigates how ROS induces NETosis. The authors demonstrate that NADPH oxidase-dependent NETosis leads to DNA damage, resulting in the nuclear translocation of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), a key DNA repair protein. Inhibition of the DNA repair complex assembly suppresses NETosis. Excess ROS induces NETosis by causing DNA damage (oxidizing guanine to 8-oxoguanine) and activating the subsequent DNA repair pathway, leading to chromatin decondensation.

Dhia Azzouz, Meraj A. Khan, Nades Palaniyar