“…In line with this, they provide stress mediators initiating cell death and autophagy, present adaptor molecules required for the transduction of cellular innate immune signals [ 2 , 3 ], and release mitochondrial components (e.g., mitochondrial DNA, mitochondrial RNA, cytochrome c, reactive oxygen species (ROS)) into the cytosol as danger signals [ 4 ] ( Figure 1 ). Mitochondrial DNA and RNA may activate intracellular sensors sensing pathogenic DNA and RNA (e.g., the retinoic-acid-inducible gene (RIG)-I-like proteins, protein kinase R (PKR), the stimulator of interferon genes (STING), mitochondrial antiviral signaling protein (MAVS), cyclic guanine monophosphate (GMP)—adenosine monophosphate (AMP) synthase [cGAS] and interferon-γ-inducible protein 16 (IFI16)) to detect intracellular pathogens [ 2 , 3 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 ]. Studies have found that mitochondrial DNA leaking from dysfunctioning or disrupted mitochondria directly activates STING providing a direct potential link between mitochondrial disease and inflammatory response [ 3 , 14 , 15 ].…”