Mitochondria complex III–generated superoxide is essential for IL-10 secretion in macrophages

Mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) function modulates macrophage biology; however, mechanisms underlying mitochondria ETC control of macrophage immune responses are not fully understood. Here, we report that mutant mice with mitochondria ETC complex III (CIII)-deficient macrophages exhibit increased susceptibility to influenza A virus (IAV) and LPS-induced endotoxic shock. Cultured bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) isolated from these mitochondria CIII-deficient mice released less IL-10 than controls following TLR3 or TLR4 stimulation. Unexpectedly, restoring mitochondrial respiration without generating superoxide using alternative oxidase (AOX) was not sufficient to reverse LPS-induced endotoxic shock susceptibility or restore IL-10 release. However, activation of protein kinase A (PKA) rescued IL-10 release in mitochondria CIII-deficient BMDMs following LPS stimulation. In addition, mitochondria CIII deficiency did not affect BMDM responses to interleukin-4 (IL-4) stimulation. Thus, our results highlight the essential role of mitochondria CIII-generated superoxide in the release of anti-inflammatory IL-10 in response to TLR stimulation.