Effects of exogenous deoxyribonuclease I in collagen antibody-induced arthritis.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with a high concentration of extracellular DNA (ecDNA). This could be a consequence of the inflammation, but the ecDNA could also be involved in the unknown etiopathogenesis of RA. Clearance of ecDNA is hypothesized to prevent the development of RA.