Towards Ways to Interfere in the Inflammatory Response to Mislocalized Mitochondrial DNA
Some of the chronic inflammation in aging is caused by mitochondrial stress, leading to the release of mitochondrial DNA fragments into the cell cytoplasm. This triggers inflammatory signaling, and understanding this process may help identify points of intervention to suppress the exposure or reaction to mitochondrial DNA.
The innate immune response, designed to defend against viruses, can also respond to misplaced mitochondrial DNA, leading to chronic inflammation and contributing to diseases and aging. Researchers have recently uncovered a process by which malfunction in mtDNA replication causes inflammation, and they hope to further understand this pathway for potential therapeutic innovation to reduce inflammation.
