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Updated: Aug 11, 2026

Strategies for Tracking Anastasis, A Cell Survival Phenomenon that Reverses Apoptosis
Published on: February 16, 2015
About the possible origin and mechanism of circulating DNA apoptosis and active DNA release
M Stroun1, J Lyautey, C Lederrey
1Lab de Biochimie et Physiologie Vegetale, Faculté des Sciences, Pavillon des Isotopes, bvd d'Yvoy 20, 1211, Geneva, Switzerland.
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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