FIGURE 1.

A higher level of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) is associated with more severe lung damage and poorer prognosis in patient samples and the acute lung injury (ALI) mouse model. (A) Serum dsDNA and (B) myeloperoxidase (MPO)–DNA complexes were detected in healthy people and patients with sepsis (n = 20) and controls (n = 20). (C) Serum MPO–DNA complexes were detected in alive and dead sepsis patients. Alive (n = 13) and dead (n = 7). (D and E) Evaluate the correlation between MPO–DNA complexes and the degree of lung damage (PaO₂/FiO₂, SOFA score) in sepsis patients. (F) NETosis representative pictures of alive and dead patients in the controls (red: MPO, green: citrulline histone H3 [CitH3], blue: DAPI; scale bar = 20 μm). (G) Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of inactivated and activated neutrophils releasing NETs (scale bar = 10 μm). (H) The percentage of cells releasing NETs from sepsis–dead, sepsis–alive and healthy control (HC) patients. HC (n = 20), alive (n = 13) and dead (n = 7). (I) Representative images of immunohistochemical staining for Ly6G in lung tissues (red arrows; scale bar = 40 μm). (J) dsDNA in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), (K) serum dsDNA and (L) serum MPO–DNA complexes were detected in sham and sepsis‐induced ALI (SI‐ALI) mice. Sham (n = 6), SI‐ALI (n = 6). ^* p < .05; ^** p < .01. ‘Dead’ patients refer to those who have final non‐survival outcomes in intensive care unit (ICU). ‘Alive’ patients refer to those who recover and survive in ICU. Two‐way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Tukey's correction.