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TEs AND FLY MUTATIONS. "In fruit flies (D. melanogaster), only 12% of genomic DNA consists of transposable elements, yet more than 50% of de novo mutations arise from these transposable elements." https://lnkd.in/eqiWug7 View in LinkedIn

TE PARADOX. "Retrotransposable element insertions into the human genome are 20 times more numerous, per unit of DNA, when compared to retrotransposable element insertions into the fruit fly genome...Despite this high rate of TE integration in humans, we have very low rates of TE activity." https://lnkd.in/eqiWug7 View in LinkedIn

DUAL PURPOSE. "In addition to their role in evolution and disease, Alus have clearly been genetically “repurposed” to play many vital roles in gene development, RNA editing, gene regulation, and microRNA regulation. As a race, humans owe a debt of gratitude to this 300 bp piece of DNA that has copied itself over a million times in our genomes. Without it, we would look much more like our mammalian primate and non-primate relatives." https://lnkd.in/eqiWug7 View in LinkedIn

"THE INFLAMMASOME resides within the cytoplasm, therefore we can reasonably assume that it is perfectly equipped to sense intracellular pathogens with cytoplasmic location, but it is also clear that it needs a system of communication (extracellular sensor, intracellular messengers) that convey alarm signals delivered by extracellular PAMPs/MAMPs or DAMPs." https://lnkd.in/eNNPn5D View in LinkedIn

MOST DAMAGING. "Alus are the most successful “copiers”, and also have been linked to the highest number of diseases caused by insertional mutations of specific genes." https://lnkd.in/eqiWug7 View in LinkedIn

"INFLAMMATION is based on the efficient cooperation between signals, sensors, and effector systems." https://lnkd.in/eNNPn5D View in LinkedIn

BEST OF BREED. "Alu elements have been twice as successful as L1 TEs in producing copies of themselves (1.4-2 million vs 850,000 copies), even though LINE-1 is a much older TE, in terms of evolution (150 million years vs 65-80 million years). This makes the Alu element “the most successful copier” in mammalian history." https://lnkd.in/eqiWug7 View in LinkedIn

NUMEROUS TRIGGERS. "It is well known that inflammation can be started by a multiplicity of causes: microorganisms and viruses, trauma, cancer, foreign particles, ischemia, exposure to radiations, metabolic disorders, and many more. The common feature of all causes of inflammation is cell or tissue damage." https://lnkd.in/eNNPn5D View in LinkedIn

DERIVATIVE LIVES. "Alu elements are “copiers that borrow their copy machine“. Unlike HERVs or LINEs, none of the Alu DNA sequence codes for proteins. This makes it a non-autonomous TE, which must use the L1 “copy machine” to duplicate itself." https://lnkd.in/eqiWug7 View in LinkedIn

FIRST LINE. "Inflammation is the key pathophysiological response triggered by noxious agents in multicellular organisms. Virtually no perturbation in body homeostasis can occur without generating a local or systemic inflammatory response. Inflammation is intimately intertwined with innate and adaptive immunity and therefore deeply involved in the pathogenesis of immune-mediated diseases." https://lnkd.in/eNNPn5D View in LinkedIn