Cell-free chromatin particles released from dying cells inflict mitochondrial damage and ROS production in living cells.

ABSTRACT: Mitochondrial damage and the resultant oxidative stress are associated with neurodegenerative diseases, ageing, and cancer. However, the triggers of mitochondrial damage remain unclear. We previously reported that cell-free chromatin particles (cfChPs) released from the billions of cells that die in the body every day can readily enter healthy cells and damage their DNA. Here, we show that cfChPs isolated from the sera of healthy individuals, when applied to NIH3T3 mouse fibroblast cells, cause physical damage to mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). cfChPs also induce ultrastructural changes, increase mitochondrial mass, alter mitochondrial shape, upregulate mitochondrial outer membrane protein translocase of the outer membrane 20, and change mitochondrial membrane potential. Furthermore, a marked i

SUBMITTER: Raghuram GV 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10789803 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature