Review Article

Netting Gut Disease: Neutrophil Extracellular Trap in Intestinal Pathology

Figure 2

A simplified schematic representation summarizing the prometastasis effect of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) that have been described. The components of NETs, the mechanisms, and the phenotypes of tumor are listed. The black solid arrows represent links that have been demonstrated especially in colorectal cancer (CRC). Dotted lines represent links that were found in other solid tumors, whether could be applied to CRC requires further evidence. CEACAM1: carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 1; TF: tissue factor; HMGB1: high-mobility group box 1; NE: neutrophil elastase; MMP-9: matrix metalloproteinase-9; CTC: circulating cancer cell; ILK: integrin-linked kinase; TLR: Toll-like receptor; ECM: extracellular matrix.