What I've Learned About Long COVID: A Gut-First Framework — 7. Maternal DNA Leakage: A Forgotten Player

Mitochondrial dysfunction (and direct mitochondrial infection) in your colonocytes can trigger release of mtDNA into your bloodstream. This &#8220;danger signal&#8221; activates your pattern-recognition receptors (TLR9, cGAS-STING pathway) and drives chronic interferon responses. Many long COVID patients have elevated plasma mtDNA. Your own mitochondrial DNA, released from damaged cells, keeps your immune system in a state of alarm.