FIGURE 1.

Endosymbiotic theory and mitochondria-induced sterile inflammation Mitochondria evolve from bacteria and synthesize proteins and DNA with similar modifications as bacterial counterparts. The evolutionary similarity between mitochondria and bacteria permits the mitochondrial danger-associated molecular patterns (mtDAMPs) to stimulate the same pattern recognition receptors of the innate immune system as bacterial pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). Image created with BioRender.com and used with permission.