Neutrophils release brakes of coagulation

Blood coagulation protects from microbial infections. A recent study now shows that neutrophils fine tune the procoagulant response to invading pathogens (pages 887-896). Neutrophils degrade an inhibitor of coagulation, locally 'trapping' bacteria in small blood vessels. But they also increase blood clots in large vessels in the absence of infection, which may be relevant for the treatment of thrombosis.