A Mitochondrial Checkpoint in Autoimmune Disease

Cell-fate decisions in innate and adaptive immune cells are metabolically regulated and modified by tissue-derived signals, thereby balancing protective and pathogenic immunity. Reporting in Science, Ling et al. (2018) have identified C1q as a mitochondrial activator that suppresses exuberant anti-self and anti-viral CD8 T cell effector responses to prevent autoimmune disease. Cell-fate decisions in innate and adaptive immune cells are metabolically regulated and modified by tissue-derived signals, thereby balancing protective and pathogenic immunity. Reporting in Science, Ling et al. (2018) have identified C1q as a mitochondrial activator that suppresses exuberant anti-self and anti-viral CD8 T cell effector responses to prevent autoimmune disease.