Scientists from Harvard Teaching Medical Hospital have discovered that Mitochondria respond to trauma by creating patient inflammation and a response not unlike bacterial infection. Best known as the energy producing powerhouses of the cell (being home of the Citric Acid Cycle and oxidative phosphorylation), Mitochondria have long been recognized as ancient symbiots – not originally part of the eukaryotic cell line, but were once prokaryotes that have, through a selectively advantageous symbiotic relationship, become incorporated into the eukaryotic cell line. These organelles have their own genetic code, their own DNA, their own plasma membrane, and are able to reproduce independently of the cell. Now, this newly understood behavior may shed light onto their ancient bacterial origin.
Beth Israel scientists have shown that during respiration, molecules from spent or disrupted mitochondria escape the cell and enter the bloodstream causing an immune response with an evolutionarily conserved similarity to bacterial infection. The study suggests that during times of severe injury when the body is undergoing rapid metabolism in response to the damage, this process is elevated and thus allows larger concentrations of the spent mitochondrial DNA to induce a cascading response in the patient. These circulating mitochondrial protein signatures ultimately cause the body to respond as though a bacterial infection were running rampant. This immune response leads to a syndrome known as Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS) that can be very dangerous leading to a racing heart, fever, breathing difficulties, and eventual organ failure.
It’s interesting to think that the body contains self-destructive mechanisms like this. However problematic these by-products may be, they are definite parts of mitochondrial energy production and therefore a requirement for life as we know.
No related posts.


8 Comments
K8Wu9x , [url=http://nztbrzlwnjuo.com/]nztbrzlwnjuo[/url], [link=http://pbkrieydbpsd.com/]pbkrieydbpsd[/link], http://lrrfnrnkelsm.com/
Great post. Like all biology students I’ve learned about the endosymbiont theory of mitochondria, but it had never even occurred to me to think about how they would respond to trauma. It’s very interesting that they’ve maintained this response. Check out my website (linked to my name) for biology supplies, textbooks, items from the Discovery Channel Store, and more.
I rcekon you are quite dead on with that.
Ecfbho rypxjomckiqn
6UMQ6r , [url=http://rufqbgfyiezs.com/]rufqbgfyiezs[/url], [link=http://ixknanbivslo.com/]ixknanbivslo[/link], http://hmeipzirjfav.com/
ucK2gR xrzqygjclwai
XrmGCY , [url=http://yhflqxrtwgrq.com/]yhflqxrtwgrq[/url], [link=http://htnmdvaokuba.com/]htnmdvaokuba[/link], http://gowrlifjxrkf.com/
i like this article
2992 Trackbacks
sopac nj…
[...]Tennis League (WHL). With a lot of wonderful brains at the rear of these goods and [...]…
News info…
I was reading the news and I saw this really cool topic…
Websites worth visiting…
[...]here are some links to sites that we link to because we think they are worth visiting[...]……
Looking around……
[...] please visit the sites many of us follow, including this one, as it signifies our selections from the internet [...]…
Informative and precise…
Its difficult to find informative and accurate information but here I noted…
Hi…
hi!,I really like your writing very much! percentage we be in contact more approximately your article on AOL? I need a specialist in this area to resolve my problem. May be that’s you! Having a look forward to look you….
Informative and precise…
Its difficult to find informative and accurate information but here I found…
will smith gay movie role…
[...]unlikely there will be any information from the courts with regards to an appeal decision[...]…
Hello…
Hey, you used to write fantastic, but the last several posts have been kinda boring… I miss your tremendous writings. Past few posts are just a bit out of track! come on!…
Visitor recommendations…
[...]one of our visitors recently recommended the following website[...]……
Wikia…
Wika linked to this place…
Visitor suggestions…
[...] Never smoke or drink as they can additionally cause heartburn. The most effective way regarding how to remedy heartburn will be to lower the spice materials [...]…
Its hard to find good help…
I am regularly proclaiming that its hard to get quality help, but here is…
Sources…
[...]check below, are some totally unrelated websites to ours, however, they are most trustworthy sources that we use[...]……
Websites worth visiting…
[...]here are some links to sites that we link to because we think they are worth visiting[...]……
Bill Gates Scholarship…
[...]the following are a few references to online websites which we link to for the fact we think they really are worthwhile checking out[...]…
[...]always a big fan of linking to bloggers that I love but don’t get a lot of link love from[...]……
[...]just beneath, are numerous totally not related sites to ours, however, they are surely worth going over[...]……
Sources…
[...]check below, are some totally unrelated websites to ours, however, they are most trustworthy sources that we use[...]……
Websites we think you should visit…
[...]although websites we backlink to below are considerably not related to ours, we feel they are actually worth a go through, so have a look[...]……
Wikia…
Wika linked to this website…
Favorite sites…
[...] requires fairly long time for achieving great results. One should have real patience [...]…
Its hard to find good help…
I am forever saying that its hard to find good help, but here is…
Its hard to find good help…
I am forever proclaiming that its difficult to find good help, but here is…
News info…
I was reading the news and I saw this really interesting info…
Websites you should visit…
[...]below you’ll find the link to some sites that we think you should visit[...]……
Tips on how to improve your Iphone !…
[...]here are some links to sites that we link to because we think they are worth visiting[...]…
sopapilla recipe new mexico…
[...]developed your methods as well as took them in the [...]…
Title…
This is my Excerpt…
Yahoo results…
While searching Yahoo I found this page in the results and I didn’t think it fit…
News info…
I was reading the news and I saw this really interesting info…
Informative and precise…
Its difficult to find informative and precise info but here I found…
Digg…
While checking out DIGG yesterday I noticed this…
Just Browsing…
While I was surfing yesterday I saw a excellent post about…
Informative and precise…
Its difficult to find informative and precise information but here I found…
The Best Cat Suits For WomenMedical website…
[...]listed below are a handful of web page links to online sites that we connect to since we think they’re definitely worth visiting[...]…
Hey…
I enjoy your writing style genuinely loving this internet site. “Let me leap out of the frying-pan into the fire or, out of God’s blessing into the warm sun.” by Miguel de Cervantes….
Sources…
[...]check below, are some totally unrelated websites to ours, however, they are most trustworthy sources that we use[...]……
Hi…
Thanks for all your efforts that you have put in this. Very interesting information. “If you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything.” by Mark Twain….
Hello…
I reckon something really special in this web site….
Links…
[...]Sites of great content we have a link to[...]……
Blogs ou should be reading…
[...]Here is a Great Blog You Might Find Interesting that we Encourage You[...]……
greenpeace whaling…
[...]Many of Lennox’s supporters and his loved ones believed that the courts could [...]…