The sensing of mitochondrial DAMPs by non-immune cells

Abstract

Mitochondria are the source of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), which are molecules that play a key modulatory role in immune cells. These molecules include proteins and peptides, such as N-formyl peptides and TFAM, as well as lipids, and metabolites such as cardiolipin, succinate and ATP, and also mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Recent data indicate that somatic cells sense mitochondrial DAMPs and trigger protective mechanisms in response to these signals. In this re-view we focus on the well-described effects of mitochondrial DAMPs on immune cells and also how these molecules induce immunogenic re-sponses in non-immune cells. Special attention will be paid to the re-sponse to mtDNA.