HMGB1 and rheumatoid arthritis: However, NETs are considered to be deleterious in a variety of sterile inflammation, including atherosclerosis, vasculitis, thrombosis, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), lung injury, and tumor metastasis.106,107 In conclusion, HMGB1 is secreted extracellular as DAMPs or a cytokine of immune cells, mediates the recruitment and infiltration of immune cells via binding to receptors, stimulates and amplifies inflammatory signals, and indirectly stimulates the activation of innate cells.