Mitochondrial dynamics, quality control, and mtDNA in alcohol-associated liver disease and liver cancer

Mitochondria are intracellular organelles responsible for energy production, glucose and lipid metabolism, cell death, cell proliferation, and innate immune response. Mitochondria are highly dynamic organelles that constantly undergo fission, fusion, and intracellular trafficking, as well as degradation and biogenesis. Mitochondrial dysfunction has been implicated in a variety of chronic liver diseases including alcohol-associated liver disease, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, and HCC. In this review, we provide a detailed overview of mitochondrial dynamics, mitophagy, and mitochondrial DNA-mediated innate immune response, and how dysregulation of these mitochondrial processes affects the pathogenesis of alcohol-associated liver disease and HCC. Mitochondrial dynamics and mitochondrial DNA-mediated innate immune response may thereby represent an attractive therapeutic target for ameliorating alcohol-associated liver disease and alcohol-associated HCC.