Fig. 7: cGAS–STING is potently activated by secreted mitochondria.

a Extracellular vesicles (EVs) isolated from A/O-treated WT or ATG7-KO HeLa stably expressing mCherry-Parkin were added to recipient HeLa cells for the indicated time. Activation of the cGAS–STING pathway was then assessed by immunoblotting. b Quantification of protein changes from a. Mean of n = 3 independent replicates ±SEM is shown. P values were calculated by two-tailed Student’s T test. *P  <  0.05, **P  <  0.01, ***P  <  0.001, and ns denotes not significant. See source data for exact P values. c, d EVs isolated from A/O treated WT or ATG7-KO cells were added to recipient HeLa cells for 24 h. mRNA expression of STING-dependent inflammatory cytokines (c) or IL-6 secretion into culture media (d) was then assessed. e, f EVs isolated from A/O-treated ATG7-KO or ATG14/ATG7 DKO cells were added to recipient HeLa cells for 24 h. mRNA expression of STING-dependent inflammatory cytokines (e) or IL-6 secretion into culture media (f) was then assessed. g, h EVs isolated from A/O treated ATG7-KO or PINK1/ATG7 DKO cells were added to recipient HeLa cells for 24 h. mRNA expression of STING-dependent inflammatory cytokines (g) or IL-6 secretion into culture media (h) was then assessed. No cell control group in h denotes the addition of isolated ATG7-KO EVs into wells with no recipient HeLa cells. Mean of n = 3 independent replicates ±SEM is shown. P values were calculated by two-tailed Student’s T test. *P  <  0.05, **P  <  0.01, ***P  <  0.001, and ns denotes not significant. See source data for exact P values.