Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 11, 2026
08:56
In vitro Assembly of Semi-artificial Molecular Machine and its Use for Detection of DNA Damage
Published on: January 11, 2012
12.0K
Mitochondrial DNA Is a Pro-Inflammatory Damage-Associated Molecular Pattern Released During Active IBD.
Ray K Boyapati1, David A Dorward1, Arina Tamborska1
1MRC Centre for Inflammation Research, Queens Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
|May 3, 2018
Summary
Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is released during active inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), acting as a pro-inflammatory factor. This finding suggests mtDNA and its receptor TLR9 could be therapeutic targets for IBD.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Gastroenterology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) shares similarities with bacterial DNA and acts as a pro-inflammatory damage-associated molecular pattern (DAMP).
- MtDNA has a pathogenic role in inflammatory diseases.
- This study investigated mtDNA's role in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if mtDNA is released during active IBD.
- To explore mtDNA as a potential pro-inflammatory factor in IBD.
- To identify mtDNA as a therapeutic target for IBD.
Main Methods:
- Collected plasma from 97 IBD patients and 40 controls.
- Measured circulating mtDNA using quantitative PCR.
- Analyzed mitochondrial formylated peptides, mitochondrial damage via electron microscopy, and TLR9 expression in IBD mucosa.
Main Results:
- Plasma mtDNA levels were significantly elevated in ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD) patients compared to controls.
- Increased mtDNA levels correlated with disease severity and activity markers.
- Mitochondrial damage and elevated fecal mtDNA were observed in active IBD, indicating gut mucosal release.
Conclusions:
- This study provides the first evidence of mtDNA release during active IBD.
- MtDNA is a potential mechanistic biomarker for IBD.
- The mtDNA-TLR9 pathway represents a promising therapeutic target for IBD.
Related Concept Videos
02:36DNA Damage Can Stall the Cell Cycle
3.2K
In response to DNA damage, cells can pause the cell cycle to assess and repair the breaks. However, the cell must check the DNA at certain critical stages during the cell cycle. If the cell cycle pauses before DNA replication, the cells will contain twice the amount of DNA. On the other hand, if cells arrest after DNA replication but before mitosis, they will contain four times the normal amount of DNA. With a host of specialized proteins at their disposal,cells must use the right protein at...
3.2K
02:36DNA Damage can Stall the Cell Cycle
10.2K
In response to DNA damage, cells can pause the cell cycle to assess and repair the breaks. However, the cell must check the DNA at certain critical stages during the cell cycle. If the cell cycle pauses before DNA replication, the cells will contain twice the amount of DNA. On the other hand, if cells arrest after DNA replication but before mitosis, they will contain four times the normal amount of DNA. With a host of specialized proteins at their disposal,cells must use the right protein at...
10.2K
02:59Animal Mitochondrial Genetics
9.3K
Among all the organelles in an animal cell, only mitochondria have their own independent genomes. Animal mitochondrial DNA is a double-stranded, closed-circular molecule with around 20,000 base pairs. Mitochondrial DNA is unique in that one of its two strands, the heavy, or H, -strand is guanine rich, whereas the complementary strand is cytosine rich and called the light, or L, -strand. Compared to nuclear DNA, mitochondrial DNA has a very low percentage of non-coding regions and is marked by...
9.3K
02:16Comparing Mitochondrial, Chloroplast, and Prokaryotic Genomes
16.8K
The present-day mitochondrial and chloroplast genomes have retained some of the characteristics of their ancestral prokaryotes and also have acquired new attributes during their evolution within eukaryotic cells. Like prokaryotic genomes, mitochondrial and chloroplast genomes neither bind with histone-like proteins nor show complex packaging into chromosome-like structures, as observed in eukaryotes. Unlike mitotic cell divisions observed in eukaryotic cells, mitochondria and chloroplasts...
16.8K
02:19Export of Mitochondrial and Chloroplast Genes
4.2K
A eukaryotic cell can have up to three different types of genetic systems: nuclear, mitochondrial, and chloroplast. During evolution, organelles have exported many genes to the nucleus; this transfer is still ongoing in some plant species. Approximately 18% of the Arabidopsis thaliana nuclear genome is thought to be derived from the chloroplast’s cyanobacterial ancestor, and around 75% of the yeast genome derived from the mitochondria’s bacterial ancestor. This export has occurred...
4.2K
01:29Drugs for Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis in IBD
533
Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory condition primarily affecting the colon and rectum. The primary drugs used in the treatment of ulcerative colitis are aminosalicylates. They exhibit anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties. They modulate inflammatory mediators and inhibit the activity of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB). Aminosalicylates also reduce inflammation by inhibiting prostaglandin and leukotriene production and decreasing neutrophil chemotaxis and superoxide...
533