Abstract
Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are beneficial antimicrobial defense structures. They are produced by activated neutrophils and consist of chromatin, granular and cytoplasmic proteins.
They resemble nets and their main role is to trap pathogens and eliminate them. NETs are able to ctivate other immune system's cell populations and contribute to the development of inflammatory response.
These structures were described for the first time in the year 2004 and since then a number of previously unrecognized functions of NETs have been revealed. Besides their antimicrobial role, NETs are also involved in the development of many diseases, such as vasculitis, systemic lupus erythematodes, atheroscle-rosis and tumorigenesis.
They have been discovered only recently, which is why the exact mechanisms of their creation and function are still intensively studied. Nevertheless, it is becoming clear that NETs are an important part of the innate immunity.