Could a new approach revolutionize stroke treatment? This review explores the potential of targeting neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) as a promising therapeutic strategy for ischemic stroke, the most common type of stroke. The research focuses on understanding how NETs contribute to stroke-related damage and how interventions targeting NETs might improve patient outcomes. The article discusses how neutrophils accumulate in the brain after a stroke, releasing NETs that exacerbate blood-brain barrier (BBB) impairment, hinder neovascularization, and worsen neurological deficits. Moreover, NETs can increase the risk of t-PA-induced cerebral hemorrhage following ischemic stroke. Given these detrimental effects, the review suggests that targeting NETs represents a novel avenue for stroke treatment. Exploring alternative approaches beyond pharmacological thrombolysis or endovascular thrombectomy, such as interventions aimed at NETs, could lead to significant breakthroughs in stroke therapy and improved prognoses for stroke patients.
Cell Communication and Signaling provides a suitable platform for this review, given its focus on cellular and molecular mechanisms in health and disease. As the article explores the role of NETs in stroke pathology and proposes targeting NETs as a therapeutic strategy, it aligns with the journal's emphasis on understanding cellular signaling pathways in the context of disease.