Abstract:Objective: To observe the effects and mechanisms of Wnt5a on the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). Methods: Neutrophils were stimulated with 50ng/ml Wnt5a for 3h, and 1μg/ml Porphyromonas gingivalis (P.gingivalis) lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and 1μg/ml Escherichia coli (E.coli) LPS were served as positive controls. Formation of NETs was observed by immunofluorescence staining and extracellular DNA was quantified by Sytox Green fluorescence staining. Levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were detected by flow cytometry and activations of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt, mitogen-activated protein kinase 1/2 (MEK1/2) / extracellular regulated protein kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2) were explored by western blot. Results: Compared with neutrophils without stimulations, Wnt5a stimulation led to the formation of NETs and the increased levels of extracellular DNA (p<0.05). In addition, levels of ROS and phosphorylations of PI3K / Akt and MEK1/2 / ERK1/2 were significantly increased in the cells treated with Wnt5a (p<0.05). Conclusion: Wnt5a might contribute to the formation of NETs depending on the production of ROS and the phosphorylations of PI3K/Akt and MEK1/2 / ERK1/2.