Elevated serum mtDNA in COVID-19 patients is linked to SARS-CoV-2 envelope protein targeting mitochondrial VDAC1, inducing apoptosis and mtDNA release.

Mitochondria dysfunction is implicated in cell death, inflammation, and autoimmunity. During viral infections, some viruses employ different strategies to disrupt mitochondria-dependent apoptosis, while others, including SARS-CoV-2, induce host cell apoptosis to facilitate replication and immune system modulation. Given mitochondrial DNAs (mtDNA) role as a pro-inflammatory damage-associated molecular pattern in inflammatory diseases, we examined its levels in the serum of COVID-19 patients and found it to be high relative to levels in healthy donors.

Projection of Expression Profiles to Transcription Factor Activity Space Provides Added Information.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an aggressive type of leukemia, characterized by the accumulation of highly proliferative blasts with a disrupted myeloid differentiation program. Current treatments are ineffective for most patients, partly due to the genetic heterogeneity of AML. This is driven by genetically distinct leukemia stem cells, resulting in relapse even after most of the tumor cells are destroyed.