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Pyelonephritis

Bacteria caught in neutrophil and UMOD traps in urine

Nature Reviews Nephrology volume 20, page 770 (2024)Cite this article

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Several mechanisms prevent the ascent of uropathogenic bacteria from the bladder to the kidney, which can lead to pyelonephritis. A new study by Menna Clatworthy and colleagues clarifies the role of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) in this protection.

Noting the presence of neutrophils in urine from individuals with a negative leukocyte esterase urine dipstick test (which is typically thought to detect neutrophils in urine as a UTI marker), the researchers also demonstrated that the test was positive only in the presence of NETosing, and not intact, neutrophils.

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References

Original article

  • Stewart, A. P. et al. Neutrophil extracellular traps protect the kidney from ascending infection and are required for a positive leukocyte dipstick test. Sci. Transl. Med. 16, eadh5090 (2024)

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  1. Nature Reviews Nephrology http://www.nature.com/nrneph

    Monica Wang

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  1. Monica Wang
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Correspondence to Monica Wang.

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Wang, M. Bacteria caught in neutrophil and UMOD traps in urine. Nat Rev Nephrol 20, 770 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41581-024-00903-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41581-024-00903-4

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