CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (CBS19 NEWS) -- Researchers have discovered how "leaky" mitochondria can drive harmful inflammation responsible for diseases like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. Understanding this process could help us develop better treatments for those diseases, improve our ability to fight off viruses and even slow aging.

The new discovery reveals how genetic material can escape from mitochondria, the powerhouses of our cells, prompting the body to launch a damaging immune response.

"When mitochondria don't correctly replicate their genetic material, they try to eliminate it," said researcher Laura Newman, PhD, of the University of Virginia School of Medicine. "However, if this is happening too often, and the cell can't dispose of all of it, it can cause inflammation, and too much inflammation can lead to disease, including autoimmune and chronic diseases."

The researchers have published their findings in the scientific journal Nature Cell Biology.