Key points from article :
Scientists discovered how malfunctioning mitochondria, the cell's power source, can trigger harmful inflammation linked to diseases like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.
Damaged mitochondria leak their genetic material, which the cell tries to discard but can overwhelm its disposal system, spilling the material into the cell.
This spilled genetic material is mistaken for a threat by the immune system, causing inflammation.
Researchers believe this finding could lead to better treatments for inflammatory diseases and potentially even slow ageing.
The study was published in the journal Nature Cell Biology by a team led at Salk Institute for Biological Studies.
The research was funded by multiple organisations including the National Institutes of Health.
