Microparticles as a source of extracellular DNA

• Published in: Immunologic research Vol. 49; no. 1-3; pp. 227 - 234
• Main Authors: Pisetsky, David S., Gauley, Julie, Ullal, Anirudh J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Humana Press Inc 01.04.2011; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Allergology; Antibodies, Antinuclear - immunology; Antigens; Apoptosis; Apoptosis - genetics; Autoantibodies; Autoantibodies - immunology; Autoantigens; Autoantigens - immunology; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Cell death; Cell Line; Cell-Derived Microparticles - genetics; Cell-Derived Microparticles - immunology; Cellular biology; Cytokines - immunology; Deoxyribonucleic acid; DNA; DNA - immunology; Extracellular Space - immunology; Humans; Immunology; Inflammation; Internal Medicine; Lupus; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic - etiology; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic - genetics; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic - immunology; Medicine/Public Health; microparticles; Systemic lupus erythematosus; Toll-Like Receptors - immunology; Vesicles; Innate immunity; Systemic lupus erythematosus; DNA; Microparticles; Apoptosis
• ISSN: 0257-277X; 1559-0755
• DOI: 10.1007/s12026-010-8184-8

Microparticles are small membrane-bound vesicles that display pro-inflammatory and pro-thrombotic activities important in the pathogenesis of a wide variety of diseases. These particles are released from activated and dying cells and incorporate nuclear and cytoplasmic molecules for extracellular export. Of these molecules, DNA is a central autoantigen in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). As studies in our laboratory show, DNA occurs prominently in microparticles, translocating into these structures during apoptotic cell death. This DNA is antigenically active and can bind to lupus anti-DNA autoantibodies. These findings suggest that microparticles are an important source of extracellular DNA to serve as an autoantigen and autoadjuvant in SLE.