Topic 8: Mitochondria, ROS, and inflammation. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are released
from mitochondria. This might be normal and even functional or - especially if excessive ROS
are released from dysfunctional mitochondria - it might lead to inflammatory disease and
accelerated cellular aging. Example questions include:
 What processes, both normal and abnormal, lead to ROS production in mitochondria?
 How and why do mitochondria that release large amounts of ROS persist sometimes,
rather than always being promptly sequestered and destroyed by mitophagy?
 How can ROS produced by mitochondria, and the resulting effects of ROS (including
inflammation), ever be healthy? What’s gone wrong when it’s unhealthy?
Note: Mitochondria are also involved in inflammation via pathways other than ROS release, and
they are involved in other aspects of innate immunity besides inflammation. If you want to
write about mitochondria and immune defense in one of these other areas, please check first
with Dr. Austerberry.