Association of neutrophil extracellular traps with the development of idiopathic osteonecrosis of the femoral head

Abstract Idiopathic osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) is defined as necrosis of osteocytes due to a non-traumatic ischemia of the femoral head. Iatrogenic glucocorticoid administration and habitual alcohol intake are regarded as risk factors. It has been suggested that glucocorticoid-induced activation of platelets contribute to the local blood flow disturbance of the femoral head. Both activated platelets and alcohol can induce neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). To determine the association of NETs with the development of idiopathic ONFH, surgically resected femoral heads of patients with idiopathic ONFH and osteoarthritis (OA) were assessed for existence of NET-forming neutrophils by immunofluorescent staining. As a result, NET-forming neutrophils were present in small vessels surrounding the femoral head of patients with idiopathic ONFH but not OA. Moreover, Wistar-Kyoto rats were intravenously injected with NET-forming neutrophils or neutrophils without NET induction, and then the ischemic state of the tissue around the femoral head was evaluated by immunohistochemistry for hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α). NET-forming neutrophils circulated into the tissue around the femoral head, and HIF-1α expression in the tissue was higher compared to that of rats intravenously administered with neutrophils without NET induction. Furthermore, ischemic change of osteocytes was observed in the femoral head of rats given an intravenous injection of NET-forming neutrophils. The collective findings suggest that NETs are possibly associated with the development of idiopathic ONFH.