Extracellular DNA and autoimmune diseases

Extracellular DNA is secreted from various sources including apoptotic cells,NETotic neutrophils and bacterial biofilms.Extracellular DNA can stimulate innate immune responses to induce type-I IFN production after being endocytosed.This process is central in antiviral responses but it also plays important role in the pathogenesis of a range of autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus.We discuss the recent advances in the understanding of the role of extracellular DNA,released from apoptotic and NETotic cells,in autoimmunity.