Abstract
Recent research has shown that cell-free chromatin (cfCh) particles that are released from the billions of cells that die in the body everyday can enter into healthy cells, integrate into their genomes and induce dsDNA breaks and apoptotic responses. Genomic integration of cfCh activates NFκB suggesting a novel mechanism of induction of systemic inflammation. Since DNA damage and inflammation are underlying pathologies in multiple devastating acute and chronic disease conditions, the discovery of agents that can inactivate cfCh may provide therapeutic possibilities.
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This study was supported by the Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India, through its grant CTCTMC to Tata Memorial Centre awarded to IM.
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Chaudhary, S., Mittra, I. Cell-free chromatin: A newly described mediator of systemic inflammation. J Biosci 44, 32 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12038-019-9849-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12038-019-9849-7