Our findings that lower autophagy and PINK1 expression are associated with higher numbers of mitochondria with ultrastructural and functional abnormalities per cell and TOM20 protein content in MSCs from infants at risk for severe BPD that were exposed to hyperoxia (but not normoxia) indicate that augmenting MSC mitochondrial quality control mechanisms during oxidant stress could also decrease BPD risk. The gene discussed is PINK1; the disease is bronchopulmonary dysplasia.