Cytoplasmic DNA as a danger signal for mammalian cells

哺乳动物细胞中的DNA包含在一个称为细胞核的结构中。细胞核外的DNA在细胞质中的存在是一个肯定的信号，表明有些事情是错误的，并可能表明存在病毒入侵者。在这种情况下，细胞启动抗病毒反应，包括抗病毒蛋白的产生和感染细胞的死亡以停止病毒的复制。缺乏对这些反应的适当控制可能导致自身免疫性疾病狼疮。

DNA in mammalian cells is contained within a structure known as the nucleus. The presence of DNA outside the nucleus in the cytoplasm of the cell is a sure sign that something is wrong, and may indicate the presence of a viral invader. In this case, the cell initiates anti-viral responses, including production of anti-viral proteins and death of the infected cell to stop replication of the virus. Lack of proper control of these responses may contibute to the autoimmune disease lupus.