Mitochondrial Damage and Dysfunction in Immunology

A special issue of Cells (ISSN 2073-4409). This special issue belongs to the section "Mitochondria".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 November 2021) | Viewed by 505

Special Issue Editors

Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
Interests: age-related macular degeneration; AMD; mitochondrial genetics; aging diseases
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Department of Ophthalmology, Gavin Herbert Eye Institute, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Mitochondria have multiple cellular functions, including energy production through oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHPS), calcium homeostasis, formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and apoptosis.  Mitochondria also play a role in antiviral and antibacterial immunity.  Mitochondrial metabolism can be modulated in response to the variable demands of different immune cells.  With these changes, the signalling pathways involving the ROS, metabolites and ATP along with biosynthetic intermediates can support diverse immune cell functions.    

The maternally inherited, circular mitochondrial (mt) DNA are susceptible to oxidative damage but unlike nuclear DNA, the mitochondria do not have effective DNA repair processes so that the mtDNA damage can accumulate and contribute to abnormalities of the immune system.  As the mitochondrial bioenergetics decline, the cells can produce higher levels of ROS that damage proteins, lipids and DNA, thereby leading to increased apoptosis, autophagy and mitophagy.  In addition, if the environmental conditions influence the mitochondria to use different substrate, e.g., OXPHOS, glycolysis or fatty acid oxidation, then the metabolic impact on different immune cells could contribute to various human diseases.  Finally, some activators of innate immune signalling are influenced by mitochondrial components, such as mtDNA, and N-formly peptides that drive formation of damage associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). 

This Special Issue aims to highlight the importance of mitochondrial bioenergetics/metabolism, and the deleterious effects of mtDNA damage on the behavior, development and functions of immune cells.  Furthermore, how might those changes impact innate or adaptive immunity related to human diseases. 

We look forward to your expert contributions.

Prof. Dr. Maria Cristina Kenney
Guest Editor

Dr. Sonali Nashine
Assistant Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • Mitochondria
  • Immunology
  • Bioenergetics
  • Apoptosis
  • Innate immunity
  • Inflammation

Published Papers

There is no accepted submissions to this special issue at this moment.
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