A recent study suggests that voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC) oligomer pores promote mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization (MOMP) and allow mtDNA to be released into the cytosol in live cells. It challenges the notion that only occurs in apoptotic cells via BAX/BAK macropores. Cytosolic mtDNA activates cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) / Stimulator of IFN Gene (STING) pathway and triggers type I interferon (IFN) response thereafter, which ultimately causes systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Mechanistically, mtDNA can interact with three positively charged residues (Lys12, Arg15, an...
