Linking retroelements to autoimmunity.
In this issue, Stetson et al. (2008) report a mechanism by which host cells avert an autoimmune response to self-nucleic acids. They show that the nuclease Trex1 prevents the accumulation of DNA derived from endogenous retroelements that, if left unchecked, trigger elevated production of type I interferons leading to autoimmunity.
Bhoj
Vijay G
VG
Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390-9148, USA.
Chen
Zhijian J
ZJ
D000818:Animals; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases; D015551:Autoimmunity; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded / Q000276:immunology*; D005090:Exodeoxyribonucleases / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000276:immunology*; D018626:Retroelements / Q000276:immunology*
D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded; D007370:Interferon Type I; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D018626:Retroelements; D005090:Exodeoxyribonucleases; C429526:three prime repair exonuclease 1