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Updated: Feb 18, 2026

Measuring Mitochondrial Function of Naïve and Effector CD8 T Cells
Published on: March 28, 2025
Roles of Mitochondrial DNA Signaling in Immune Responses
Lingyan Wang1,2, Michael N Liebmen1,2, Xiangdong Wang3
1Zhongshan Hospital Institute of Clinical Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Abstract:
Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) plays an important role in immune responses during the evolution. The present chapter systemically describes its role on immune-related diseases and its interaction on immune responses. It is important to explore the main function and mechanisms of mtDNA in immune responses by which mtDNA regulates the signaling pathways of Toll-like receptor 9, autophagy, and STING. There are potentials to discover therapeutic targets of mtDNA in immune diseases and inflammation. It will be more exciting if the CRISPR-Cas9 method can be applied for mtDNA gene editing to cure diseases and provide a novel insight of mtDNA in immune responses as well as new therapies.
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