The significance of serum neutrophil extracellular traps in rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

Objective To explore the role of serum neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) in rheumatoid arthritis(RA). Methods The serum circulating free DNA(cf-DNA)/NETs in 45 RA patients and 18 healthy controls were detected by Pico Green dsDNA Quantitation Kits, and the association between serum NETs and ESR, DAS28 score, anti-CCP antibodies was analyzed. T test, rank sum test, Pearson or Spearman correlation analysis were ued for statistical analysis. Results ① The levels of serum dsDNA/NETs in RA patients [0.523 0 (0.282 0, 1.637 0) μg/ml] were significantly higher than those in healthy controls [0.410 5(0.140 0, 0.966 0) μg/ml] (Z=-2.419, P=0.016). ② The level of serum dsDNA/NETs in RA was positively correlated with ESR and DAS28 score (r=0.357, P=0.016; r=0.325, P=0.029) , but not with anti-CCP antibodies(r=0.146, P=0.434). ③ The levels of serum dsDNA/NETs in RA treated by DMARDs were lower than those of untreated with DMARDs[0.516 5 (0.282 0, 1.637 0) μg/ml, 0.523 0 (0.369 0, 1.485 0) μg/ml, Z=-1.215, P=0.225], but the difference was not significant. Conclusion NETs maybe associated with disease activity and play an important role in RA pathogenesis. Key words: Arthritis, rheumatoid; Neutrophil extracellular traps