Neutrophils and neutrophil extracellular traps enhance venous thrombosis in mice bearing human pancreatic tumors.

In this study, we examined the contribution of neutrophils and NETs to venous thrombosis in nude mice bearing human pancreatic tumors. We found that tumor-bearing mice had increased circulating neutrophil counts and levels of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor, neutrophil elastase, H3Cit and cell-free DNA compared with controls. In addition, thrombi from tumor-bearing mice contained increased levels of the neutrophil marker Ly6G, as well as higher levels of H3Cit and cell-free DNA. Thrombi from tumor-bearing mice also had denser fibrin with thinner fibers consistent with increased thrombin generation. Importantly, either neutrophil depletion or administration of DNase I reduced the thrombus size in tumor-bearing but not in control mice. Our results, together with clinical data, suggest that neutrophils and NETs contribute to venous thrombosis in pancreatic cancer patients.
PMID: 31048354 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Source: Haematologica - May 1, 2019 Category: Hematology Authors: Hisada Y, Grover SP, Maqsood A, Houston R, Ay C, Noubouossie DF, Cooley BC, Wallén H, Key NS, Thålin C, Farkas ÁZ, Farkas VJ, Tenekedjiev K, Kolev K, Mackman N Tags: Haematologica Source Type: research