The incidence of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and accumulation of circulating free (cf) DNA increase with age but it is unknown whether DNA fragments cause joint inflammation. Here authors show that cf DNA levels are higher in RA patients and that in a rat adjuvant-induced arthritis model, the exonuclease TREX1 suppresses synovial inflammation via promoting the degradation of cf DNA and inhibiting a senescence-like cellular state.
- Wei-Dan Luo
- Yu-Ping Wang
- Vincent Kam Wai Wong
