Whether cells in the human body survive or die under stress depends, among other things, on their mitochondria. Scientists at the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Freiburg have now shown that a sudden stop in energy production in mitochondria prevents normal cell death or so-called apoptosis and instead triggers an inflammatory response. The results of this research were published in the journal Immunity.
“We found that mitochondria provide a kind of decision-making aid: they regulate whether a cell undergoes clean, silent apoptosis or releases pro-inflammatory messenger substances,” explains Prof. Dr. Olaf Groß, head of the study, a scientist at the Institute of Neuropathology at the Medical Center—University of Freiburg and a member of the Cluster of Excellence CIBSS—Center for Integrative Biological Signaling Studies at the University of Freiburg.
“This finding helps us to better understand how the body maintains a balance between cell protection and defense mechanisms. This could open up new avenues for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.”
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