The removal of excessive neutrophil extracellular traps is helpful for delaying the occurrence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Abstract Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are elevated in peripheral blood and sputum in patients with COPD, but the effect of NETs on the occurrence of COPD is unknown. There is no effective prevention method for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In order to investigate the role of removing excessive NETs in preventing the occurrence of COPD, we evaluated a mouse model of COPD and the delaying effect of removing excessive NETs by aerosolised inhalation of DNase I. We found that a mouse model of COPD could be successfully established after 12 weeks of LPS + CS intervention; LPS + CS exposure produced excess NETs; DNase I nebulised inhalation was effective in reducing NETs levels; and removal of excessive NETs reduced apoptosis and microthrombus formation in lung epithelial cells, attenuated systemic and pulmonary inflammatory responses, and attenuated lung pathological changes and loss of lung function. These data demonstrate for the first time that removal of excess NETs can effectively protect lung function and delay the onset of COPD.