About the possible origin and mechanism of circulating DNA apoptosis and active DNA release.

BACKGROUND In addition to cell lysis, apoptosis has been advanced as the origin of circulating DNA on the basis of several observations. Plasma or serum DNA often presents a ladder pattern reminiscent of that displayed by apoptotic cells when subjected to electrophoresis. However, the phenomenon of active release of DNA from cells might also be expected to result in a ladder pattern on electrophoresis. Non-dividing cells, such as lymphocytes, frog auricles and cultured cell lines including HL-60, spontaneously release a nucleoprotein complex within a homeostatic system in which newly synthesized DNA is preferentially released. CONCLUSION In relation to DNA synthesis, the phenomenon of extracellular DNA in different culture conditions favors apoptosis or spontaneous active DNA release.

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