Representative images of immunofluorescence staining to detect neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs).

<p>NETs were visualized in the blood smear samples by immunocytochemistry and identified as extracellular string-like structures composed of chromatin (DNA and histone H3). NETs were present in the bloodstream of critically ill patients. Citrullination of histone H3 was not recognized in these images. In the blood smears surveyed in this study, we identified NETs in five patients (5/49, 10.2%). Blue, 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI); red, histone H3; green, citrullinated histone H3. Arrowheads indicate the double-stained areas containing NETs (Magnification ×400). Scale bar; 50 µm.