Fig. 1
From: Mitochondrial SOS: how mtDNA may act as a stress signal in Alzheimer’s disease
Mechanisms of mtDNA release. Stressed, dysfunctional, and/or damaged mitochondria may release mtDNA in whole or in fragments as a stress response via MPT pores, mitochondrial exosome release, and/or mitochondrial membrane permeabilization in BAX/BAK apoptosis. These mechanisms may cause a decrease in intracellular mtDNA and an accumulation of extracellular mtDNA which can act as a DAMP and trigger immune responses. This figure was created with BioRender.com