Circulating cell‐free mitochondrial DNA in diabetes mellitus: Current insights and unexplored frontiers

Abstract excerpt

The role and significance of circulating cell-free mitochondrial DNA (ccf-mtDNA)-small fragments of mitochondrial DNA present in plasma-are becoming increasingly clear in various diseases. The release of mtDNA into the plasma results from mitochondrial dysfunction, cell death, and NETosis, all of which are elevated in diabetes and its complications. Due to its resemblance to pathogenic DNA, mitochondrial DNA can...