Abstract
Aims: Neutrophils play a key role in infection control via two main mechanisms: phagocytosis and neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) release. Despite their role in infection, NETs can also promote cancer growth and metastasis, inflammatory diseases, and vascular thrombosis. However, the relationship between NET formation and the diet, which are critical factors in the progression of metabolic syndrome, remains unclear. In this study, we examined whether blood NET formation is increased after food intake and sought to identify the dietary components that trigger NET formation.
Methods: Using flow cytometry, we analysed NET formation in the blood of mice fed with four different nutritional diets: normal moderate-fat diet (MF), high-fat diet (HF), high-fat and cholesterol diet (HFHC), and dietary fiber Bacto Agar (BA).
Results: The highest NET formation was found in HF-fed mice, while no increase was found in BA-fed mice. Moreover, we observed peaks in NET formation ~2 h and 6–24 h after meal consumption. NET formation was abolished after intestinal bacteria were depleted by antibiotic treatment, even when the mice were fed the HF meal. Furthermore, we observed NET formation in human peripheral blood 6 h after meal consumption.
Conclusions: These findings suggest that NET formation in peripheral blood may be induced after intake of a high-fat diet, and that this phenomenon is closely associated with the gut microbiota. Further investigations are warranted to unveil the involvement of food components, the gut microbiota, and blood NET formation in the pathogenesis of lifestyle-related diseases.
