VWF and atrial fibrillation: During thrombosis neutrophils are recruited and activated to secrete NETs by the von Willebrand factor (VWF) and P-selectin deprived from the endothelium, which promotes thrombosis by providing scaffold and recruiting of XIIa factor, platelets, and red blood cells.49–51 The formation of micro-thrombus further facilitates NETs formation and result in the ischemia of the myocardium and the mitochondrial dysfunction of cardiomyocytes.48 In addition, we identified NETs in the mural thrombi obtained from LA of patients with AF (Supplementary Fig. 10).