Severe cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by infection with
SARS-CoV-2, are characterized by a hyperinflammatory immune response that leads to
numerous complications. Production of proinflammatory neutrophil extracellular traps
(NETs) has been suggested to be a key factor in inducing a hyperinflammatory signaling
cascade, allegedly causing both pulmonary tissue damage and peripheral inflammation.
Accordingly, therapeutic blockage of neutrophil activation and NETosis, the cell death
pathway accompanying NET formation, could limit respiratory damage and death from severe
COVID-19. Here, we demonstrate that synthetic glycopolymers that activate signaling of
the neutrophil checkpoint receptor Siglec-9 suppress NETosis induced by agonists of
viral toll-like receptors (TLRs) and plasma from patients with severe COVID-19. Thus,
Siglec-9 agonism is a promising therapeutic strategy to curb neutrophilic
hyperinflammation in COVID-19.