Cell-free chromatin from dying cells trigger an immune responseviathe cGAS-STING pathway

Abstract

AbstractUnderstanding what triggers an immune response is the central unresolved issue in immunology, although the association between immune response and cell death has long been recognized. Here, we show that cell-free chromatin particles that are released from dying cells, or those that circulate in blood, can readily enter healthy human lymphocytes to activate CD69 expression and the release of inflammatory cytokines. The latter can be abrogated by the STING protein inhibitor H151, indicating that cell-free chromatin particles activate an immune response via the cGAS-STING pathway. Cell-free chromatin particles released from dying cells may represent the missing link between cell death and immune response.One-Sentence SummaryCell-free chromatin particles released from dying cells could be the missing link between cell death and immune response.