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. 2023 Apr 25;21(4):e3002084. doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002084

Fig 2. How myeloid cells with dysfunctional mitochondria contribute to autoimmunity.

Fig 2

(A) Type I interferon-generating events in myeloid APCs are the internalization of erythrocytes that contain mitochondria and mitophagy deficiency in APCs. Both events allow mDNA and mRNA into the cytoplasm, triggering cGAS–STING and TLR-sensing systems and activation of the type I IFN pathway. (B) Dying myeloid APCs release cardiolipin, a lipid component of the mitochondrial membrane, in addition to mitochondrial nucleic acids. Free cardiolipin is a potent adjuvant that might allow DCs to prime autoreactive naïve T cells. Figure prepared using Biorender’s templates. APC, antigen-presenting cell; DC, dendritic cell; IFN, interferon; mDNA, mitochondrial DNA; TLR, toll-like receptor.