DNA damage in protective and adverse inflammatory responses: Friend of foe?

The impact of DNA damage-induced immune responses on aging and disease development is a topic of growing scientific interest and debate. While abundant data links persistent genotoxic stress and associated inflammatory activity to organ decline and cancer development, evidence of pro-homeostatic nature of immune responses triggered by transient DNA damage gradually accumulates. Current review focuses on comparing systemic outcomes of transient genotoxicity with effects of persistent DNA damage from the angle of associated immune activity. We discuss genotoxic stress as a potential damage associated molecular pattern (DAMP) which alerts the organism of the upcoming systemic dysfunction and pre-conditions the body for damage tolerance and repair.