Mitochondria have primarily been known as the energy-producing components of cells. But scientists are increasingly discovering that these small organelles do much more than just power cells. They are also involved in immune functions such as controlling inflammation, regulating cell death and responding to infections.
Assistant Professor of Microbiology Andrew Monteith and his colleagues’ research reveals that mitochondria play another key role in immune response: sensing bacterial activity and helping neutrophils, a type of white blood cell, trap and kill them.
Monteith’s research has focused on understanding the decisions immune cells make during infection and how the breakdown of these decision-making processes cause disease. His lab’s recent findings shed light on why people with autoimmune diseases such as lupus may struggle to fight infections, revealing a potential link between dysfunctional mitochondria and weakened immune defenses. Read more at The Conversation.
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