Damage-associated Molecular Patterns
DAMPs are injury signals released by damaged cells that alert the immune system to start healing, acting as a short-term 'wake-up' call rather than just harmful inflammation.
Damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) are endogenous molecules released from cells during injury, stress, or necrosis that signal tissue damage to the immune system. Derived from intracellular components like DNA, ATP, or heat-shock proteins, they activate receptors such as TLRs to initiate inflammation and repair processes essential for healing.
What this means in real life
When you cut your finger, dying skin cells release DAMPs that tell nearby immune cells 'something is wrong here'—triggering inflammation, redness, and swelling even before any bacteria arrive.
What it isn’t
DAMPs are not pathogens or foreign invaders; they're signals from your own damaged cells. Unlike PAMPs (pathogen-associated molecular patterns), DAMPs activate immunity in sterile injuries with no infection present.
Commonly misused online
Often conflated with 'toxins' or treated as universally harmful, when in fact DAMPs are essential repair signals—excessive DAMP release causes problems, but baseline signaling is protective.