Neutrophil extracellular trap-associated cell death - role in gout and relationship to alternate forms of cell death

Abstract

Cell death has emerged as a critical process in many facets of human disease, ranging from cancer to inflammation and cardiovascular disease. One such modality, Neutrophil Extracellular Trap (NET)-related cell death, or NETosis, is a form of cell death with potential implications in a wide range of human conditions but, at present, understanding of the mechanisms of NETosis and its physiologic and pathological consequences is limited. Finding the key mechanisms underlying NETosis will illuminate roles for NETosis in human diseases and animal models of these conditions, and provide targets for intervention. This thesis examines NETosis in the context of the human inflammatory disease, gout, a..