Mitochondria at the membrane provide a route to inflammatory cell death

Zezhao Chen; Daichao Xu

doi:10.1016/j.cmet.2025.12.019

Mitochondria at the membrane provide a route to inflammatory cell death

Cell Metab. 2026 Feb 3;38(2):260-262. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2025.12.019.

Authors

Zezhao Chen¹, Daichao Xu²

Affiliations

¹ Interdisciplinary Research Center on Biology and Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201210, China.
² Interdisciplinary Research Center on Biology and Chemistry, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201210, China; Shanghai Academy of Natural Sciences (SANS), Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201210, China; State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200032, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Aging Studies, Shanghai 201210, China. Electronic address: xudaichao@sioc.ac.cn.

PMID: 41638191
DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2025.12.019

Abstract

In a recent issue of Cell, Wang et al. identify "mitoxyperilysis," a previously unknown lytic cell death pathway where combined innate immune and metabolic stress triggers prolonged mitochondria-plasma membrane contact, causing local oxidative damage and membrane rupture. This mTORC2-regulated process identifies a therapeutic axis for inflammatory diseases and cancer.

MeSH terms

Animals
Cell Death*
Cell Membrane* / metabolism
Humans
Inflammation* / metabolism
Inflammation* / pathology
Mitochondria* / metabolism
Mitochondrial Membranes* / metabolism