title: DNA Damage Response and Immune Defense: Links and Mechanisms.
abstract: DNA damage plays a causal role in numerous human pathologies including cancer, premature aging, and chronic inflammatory conditions. In response to genotoxic insults, the DNA damage response (DDR) orchestrates DNA damage checkpoint activation and facilitates the removal of DNA lesions. The DDR can also arouse the immune system by for example inducing the expression of antimicrobial peptides as well as ligands for receptors found on immune cells. The activation of immune signaling is triggered by different components of the DDR including DNA damage sensors, transducer kinases, and effectors. In this review, we describe recent advances on the understanding of the role of DDR in activating immune signaling. We highlight evidence gained into (i) which molecular and cellular pathways of DDR activate immune signaling, (ii) how DNA damage drives chronic inflammation, and (iii) how chronic inflammation causes DNA damage and pathology in humans.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Genome Stability in Ageing and Disease, Medical Faculty, University of CologneCologne, Germany; Cologne Excellence Cluster for Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne and Systems Biology of Ageing Cologne, University of CologneCologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Rania
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nakad
authors.affiliation: Institute for Genome Stability in Ageing and Disease, Medical Faculty, University of CologneCologne, Germany; Cologne Excellence Cluster for Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne and Systems Biology of Ageing Cologne, University of CologneCologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Björn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schumacher
keywords: DNA damage; DNA damage response (DDR); chronic inflammation; immune defense; tumourigenesis