FIGURE 1.
Neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) remnants were associated with titers of ACPAs in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Serum levels of myeloperoxidase (MPO)‐DNA and elastase (NE)‐DNA complexes (NET remnants) were examined in 51 patients with RA and 40 healthy controls using a modified enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Patients with RA showed increased levels of NET remnants either defined as MPO‐DNA (A) or NE‐DNA (B) complexes. In 51 patients with different ACPA concentration, levels of MPO‐DNA complexes (C) and NE‐DNA complexes (D) were compared between ACPA‐N (<25 U/ml, n = 10), ACPA‐MP (25 U/ml ≤ ACPA ≤ 1600 U/ml, n = 27), and ACPA‐SP (>1600 U/ml, n = 14) group. The results were calculated by dividing the mean OD405/490 values of the samples by the mean OD405/490 value of the control sample (relative unit, RU). Data are presented as the medians (interquartile range). *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001