Abstract
During the acute inflammatory response, the release of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) is a pro-inflammatory, preconditioning event on a biomaterial surface. Therefore, regulation of NET release through biomaterial design is one strategy to enhance biomaterial-guided in situ tissue regeneration. In this study, IgG adsorption on electrospun polydioxanone biomaterials with differing fiber sizes was explored as a regulator of in vitro human neutrophil NET release. The propensity to release NETs was increased and decreased by modulating adsorbed IgG, suggesting a functional link between IgG and NET formation. Fiber-size dependent NET release was reduced by blocking FcγRIIIb, but not FcγRI, FcγRIIa, or Mac-1 (CD11b/CD18), indicating a specific receptor mediated neutrophil response. Inhibition of transforming growth factor-β-activated kinase 1 (TAK1), which is activated downstream of FcγRIIIb, significantly reduced the release of NETs in a fiber size-independent manner. These results indicate that in vitro electrospun biomaterial-induced NET release is largely regulated by IgG adsorption, engagement of FcγRIIIb, and signaling through TAK1. Modulation of this pathway may have beneficial therapeutic effects for regulating neutrophil-mediated inflammation by avoiding the adverse effects of NETs and increasing the potential for in situ tissue regeneration. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Electrospun biomaterials have great potential for in situ tissue engineering because of their versatility and biomimetic properties. However, understanding how to design the biomaterial to regulate acute inflammation, dominated by neutrophils, remains a great challenge for successful tissue integration and regeneration. In this work, we demonstrate for the first time how protein adsorption on the biomaterial surface and engagement of a specific neutrophil receptor induces intracellular signals that regulate the pro-inflammatory release of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). Given the deleterious effects of NETs during the acute inflammatory response to a biomaterial, our work highlights the importance of considering biomaterial-neutrophil interactions on degradable and non-degradable biomaterials to achieve the desired biological outcome.