Angiologie: Offener Zugang
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Abstrakt

Circulating Cell-Free Mitochondrial DNA as Biomarker of Cardiovascular risk: New Challenges of Old Findings

Alexander E. Berezin

Circulating cell-free mitochondrial DNA has been found in healthy subjects and patients with neoplasia, trauma, infections, and stroke, as well as cardiovascular (CV), autoimmune, metabolic and rheumatic diseases. The main triggers of deriving of cell-free mitochondrial DNA are various clinical conditions associated with cell death, necrosis, and activation of cells following antigen stimulation, inflammatory cytokine effect. Currently cell-free mitochondrial DNA is discussed a critical activator of inflammation and the innate immune system that may link mitochondrial dysfunction, cell death and target organ damage. The epidemiological evidence indicates that elevated circulating cell-free mitochondrial DNA is associated with the initiation and development of CV and metabolic diseases, while diagnostic and predictive value of this biomarker among non-cancer individuals is not fully understood. The mini review is summarized evidences regarding the biological role of circulating cell-free mitochondrial DNA and hypothesized the indication for clinical use of circulating DNA as diagnostic and predictive biomarkers among patients with CV risk.