Role of innate immune mechanisms triggered by mitochondrial DNA release in metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease and targeted intervention strategies

Yu Zhou; Kaiyang Li; Mei Yang; Qi Zhao; Yiming Zhao; Fei Zhang; Qian Wang

doi:10.12449/JCH260832

Volume 42 Issue 8

Aug. 2026

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Article Navigation > Journal of Clinical Hepatology > 2026 > 42(8): 1960-1966

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Role of innate immune mechanisms triggered by mitochondrial DNA release in metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease and targeted intervention strategies

DOI: 10.12449/JCH260832

1.
The Second Clinical Medical School of Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine，Guiyang 550002，China
2.
Department of Clinical Laboratory，The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine，Guiyang 550001，China
3.
Department of Gastroenterology，The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine，Guiyang 550001，China

Research funding:

National Natural Science Foundation of China (82160866);

Science and Technology Planning Project of Guizhou Province (Qiankehe Jichu-ZK［2023］General 433);

Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ethnic Medicine Science and Technology Research Project of Guizhou Province (QZYY-2025-182)

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Corresponding author: Yang Mei， 908417289@qq.com （ORCID： 0009-0003-3563-4767）
Received Date: 2025-12-22
Accepted Date: 2026-01-12
Published Date: 2026-08-25

Abstract

Abstract

Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease （MAFLD） is the most prevalent chronic liver disease worldwide， with a complex pathogenesis. Mitochondria play a pivotal role in this disease process， and studies have confirmed that mitochondrial dysfunction can exacerbate metabolic disorders and induce innate immune imbalance， while mitochondrial DNA （mtDNA） is the core molecule mediating these two pathological effects. After the abnormal release of mtDNA， it can be recognized by intracellular pattern recognition receptors， which in turn triggers innate immune responses and causes tissue damage， forming a pathological pathway of “mtDNA release-immune activation-tissue damage”. Currently， there is a lack of systematic reviews summarizing the mechanism of action of this pathway in different stages of MAFLD and the intervention strategies targeting this pathway. This article systematically reviews the core molecular mechanism of this pathway， its pathological role in the development and progression of MAFLD， and the current intervention strategies targeting this mechanism， in order to provide a theoretical basis for analyzing the pathogenesis of MAFLD and developing novel therapeutic strategies.
- Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease,
- DNA， Mitochondrial,
- Immunity， Innate,
- Signal Transduction

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References

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Role of innate immune mechanisms triggered by mitochondrial DNA release in metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease and targeted intervention strategies

DOI: 10.12449/JCH260832

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Role of innate immune mechanisms triggered by mitochondrial DNA release in metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease and targeted intervention strategies

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