Fig. 1From: The role of mitophagy in innate immune responses triggered by mitochondrial stressMitochondrial stress acts as a trigger of innate immune responses. Cell and tissue stress initiated by endogenous or exogenous stimuli can directly or indirectly cause mitochondrial stress. Mitochondrial stress leads to mtROS, mtDNA and ATP release into the cytosol or extracellular milieu, cardiolipin externalization and cytochrome c release into the cytosol. Cytosolic mtDNA activates the cGAS-STING pathway, resulting in the production of type I IFN. Moreover, mtROS, mtDNA, cardiolipin and ATP engage in the activation of inflammasome leading to IL-1β and IL-18 processing and secretion. Cytosolic cytochrome c triggers activation of apoptotic caspase-3/− 7, and which inhibits type I IFN production via cleaving cGAS and IRF3. Similarly, caspase-1 also can cleave cGAS to prevent type I IFN expressionBack to article page