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Mitochondrial control of inflammation

Saverio Marchi1, Emma Guilbaud2, Stephen W G Tait3,4

  • 1Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Marche Polytechnic University, Ancona, Italy.

Nature Reviews. Immunology
|July 25, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Mitochondria release damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) that trigger inflammation. When cellular defenses fail, this mitochondrial inflammation can cause autoimmune, infectious, and neoplastic diseases.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Mitochondria contain molecules that act as damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs).
  • Release of mitochondrial DAMPs into the cytosol or extracellular space promotes inflammation.
  • Cellular safeguards, like autophagy, normally prevent detrimental mitochondrial inflammatory responses.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To discuss the molecular mechanisms of mitochondria-driven inflammation.
  • To outline cellular pathways controlling mitochondria-induced inflammatory responses.
  • To explore the pathological consequences of dysregulated mitochondrial inflammation.

Main Methods:

  • Review of molecular mechanisms.
  • Analysis of cellular pathways.
  • Discussion of pathological outcomes.

Main Results:

  • Mitochondrial DAMPs can initiate inflammatory reactions when cellular safeguards are compromised.
  • Dysregulated mitochondrial inflammation contributes to autoimmune, infectious, and neoplastic disorders.
  • Inefficient inflammatory pathways exacerbate disease progression.

Conclusions:

  • Mitochondria play a critical role in regulating inflammatory responses.
  • Defects in cellular pathways controlling mitochondrial inflammation can lead to pathogenic outcomes.
  • Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for addressing diseases linked to autoreactivity and infection.

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