Fig. 6. Schematic representation of circulating mtDNA-mediated acute lung injury during sepsis due to STING-dependent autophagy dysfunction.
Infection and stress facilitate mtDNA release from injured cells into the circulation, and this mtDNA is recognized by macrophages. Excess activation of the STING pathway leads to autophagic flux blockade by affecting lysosomal acidification in a TBK1-dependent manner, resulting in a vicious cycle and remote organ injury. Created with BioRender.com.