Platelet TLR4 activates neutrophil extracellular traps to ensnare bacteria in septic blood

Nat Med. 2007 Apr;13(4):463-9. doi: 10.1038/nm1565. Epub 2007 Mar 25.

Abstract

It has been known for many years that neutrophils and platelets participate in the pathogenesis of severe sepsis, but the inter-relationship between these players is completely unknown. We report several cellular events that led to enhanced trapping of bacteria in blood vessels: platelet TLR4 detected TLR4 ligands in blood and induced platelet binding to adherent neutrophils. This led to robust neutrophil activation and formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). Plasma from severely septic humans also induced TLR4-dependent platelet-neutrophil interactions, leading to the production of NETs. The NETs retained their integrity under flow conditions and ensnared bacteria within the vasculature. The entire event occurred primarily in the liver sinusoids and pulmonary capillaries, where NETs have the greatest capacity for bacterial trapping. We propose that platelet TLR4 is a threshold switch for this new bacterial trapping mechanism in severe sepsis.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alanine Transaminase / blood
  • Animals
  • Bacteria / immunology*
  • Blood Platelets / immunology*
  • Epithelium / pathology
  • Humans
  • Lipopolysaccharides / metabolism
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Neutrophils / enzymology
  • Neutrophils / immunology*
  • Sepsis / immunology
  • Sepsis / microbiology*
  • Sepsis / physiopathology*
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4 / metabolism*

Substances

  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • Toll-Like Receptor 4
  • Alanine Transaminase