Apoptotic cell-free DNA promotes inflammation in haemodialysis patients

作者：Atamaniuk Johanna; Kopecky Chantal; Skoupy Sonja; Saeemann Marcus D; Weichhart Thomas^*

来源：Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation, 2012, 27(3): 902-905.

DOI：10.1093/ndt/gfr695

• apoptosis
• cell-free DNA
• haemodialysis
• interleukin 6
• monocytes

Background. A proinflammatory environment characterized by the continuous activation of the innate immune system is thought to contribute to the markedly elevated mortality in haemodialysis (HD) patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The presence of circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) has been demonstrated as biomarker in many pathologies. %26lt;br%26gt;Methods. We evaluated the occurrence of cfDNA in HD patients and its functional relevance for innate immunity and inflammation. %26lt;br%26gt;Results. Here, we found that cfDNA was enhanced in the plasma of ESRD patients after HD compared to healthy controls. Functionally, cfDNA selectively stimulated the production of the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-6 by human monocytes, whereas tumour necrosis factor-alpha or IL-10 was not induced. Conversely, plasma from HD patients, but not from healthy controls or DNase I-treated HD plasma, induced IL-6 production from monocytes. %26lt;br%26gt;Conclusion. We provide the first evidence that cfDNA has selective immunostimulatory effects on human monocytes. This process may contribute to the proinflammatory milieu observed in HD patients.

• 出版日期2012-3