Figure 5.

Nintedanib reduces NET formation and complement activation in rheumatoid arthritis-interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD) patients. Levels of (A) CitH3 indicating NET release and (B) soluble terminal complement complex sC5b-9 in the serum or plasma of patients with RA-ILD, before and 16 weeks after the initiation of the antifibrotic therapy (n = 5 subjects per group). Levels of (C) CitH3, (D) thrombin anti-thrombin (TAT) complex and (E) interleukin (IL)-17A in ex-vivo isolated NET structures from patients with RA-ILD, before and 16 weeks after the initiation of the antifibrotic therapy (n = 5 subjects per group). Data are shown as mean ± SD, Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed rank test (two-tailed). Statistically significant: P < 0.05; NS, not significant.