Mitochondrial damage-associated molecular patterns: New perspectives for mitochondria and inflammatory bowel diseases

Mitochondria are key regulators of inflammatory responses and mitochondrial dysfunction is closely linked to various inflammatory diseases. Increasing genetic and experimental evidence suggests that mitochondria play a critical role in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In the complex environment of the intestinal tract, intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) and their mitochondria possess unique phenotypic features, shaping each other and regulating intestinal homeostasis and inflammation through diverse mechanisms. Here, we focus on intestinal inflammation in IBD induced by mitochondrial damage-associated molecular patterns (mtDAMPs), which comprise mitochondrial components and metabolic products. The pathogenic mechanisms of mtDAMP signaling pathways mediated by two major mtDAMPs, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS), are discussed.