FIG. 2.

The roles of mitochondrial DAMPs on organ injuries. Circulating mitochondrial DAMPs can induce peripheral distant organ injuries. After mitochondrial DAMPs are released into circulation from damaged tissue sites, mitochondrial DAMPs promote adhesion of activated neutrophils and vascular endothelial cells and transmigration of immune cells into distant organs such as the lung. The transmigrated immune cells secrete proinflammatory cytokines and proteinases, leading to inflammatory responses in alveolar spaces. In addition, this immune response may release another mitochondrial DAMP (e.g., ATP) and further enhance inflammatory responses, resulting in exacerbating lung injuries. ATP, adenosine triphosphate. To see this illustration in color, the reader is referred to the web version of this article at www.liebertpub.com/ars