🇬🇧 Mitochondria as signaling organelles control immunity

Abstract

My lab is interested in understanding how mitochondria control physiology and pathology beyond ATP production. For decades, mitochondria have been primarily viewed as biosynthetic and bioenergetic organelles generating metabolites to produce macromolecules and ATP, respectively.

Our work has revealed mitochondria have a third distinct role whereby mitochondria can generate signals to control physiology and diseases. Our work reveals that mitochondria can release reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the metabolite L-2-hydroxyglutarate (L-2HG) in controlling hypoxic responses, cellular differentiation, and immune responses. Dysregulation of this mitochondrial signaling can trigger pathology.

I will present our latest findings on how mitochondria as signaling organelles control both adaptive and innate immunity.