Neutrophil Extracellular Traps Drive Endothelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition

These results indicate that an excess of NETs exceeds the phagocytic capacity of endothelial cells for NETs and promotes vascular leakage and endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition through the degradation of VE-cadherin and the subsequent activation of β-catenin signaling. Our data designate NET-associated elastase as a potential therapeutic target in the prevention of endothelial alterations in diseases characterized by aberrant NET release.