Neutrophil extracellular trap components in fibrinoid necrosis of the kidney with myeloperoxidase-ANCA-associated vasculitis

In response to antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA), activated neutrophils release decondensed chromatin associated with cytoplasmic granular proteins composed of proteolytic enzymes and myeloperoxidase (MPO); these complexes are named neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). NET formation requires peptidylarginine deiminase 4 (PAD4) to citrullinate chromatin histones and also MPO and neutrophil elastase to aid in decondensation and release of chromatin. Immunostaining of renal biopsy revealed that NET components of citrullinated histone, MPO and PAD4 were concurrently deposited both around fibrinoid necrosis in necrotizing glomerulonephritis in the early focal phase of ANCA-associated polyangiitis and along an interlobular arterial wall.