泛素化调控抗病毒天然免疫的研究进展

天然免疫是宿主防御病原微生物入侵的第一道防线,其活化主要通过天然免疫细胞上的模式识别受体(pattern recognition receptors, PRRs)识别病原微生物上相对保守的相关分子模式(pathogen-associated molecular patterns, PAMPs).病毒相关的核酸成分可以被机体Toll样受体(Toll-like receptors, TLRs)、维甲酸诱导基因Ⅰ受体(RIG-I-like receptors, RLRs)以及胞浆DNA受体(cytoplasmic DNA sensors)等识别,通过一系列复杂的细胞信号通路诱导Ⅰ型干扰素(typeⅠinterferon)及炎症因子的表达,从而激发机体抗病毒反应.泛素化修饰是细胞内广泛存在的蛋白质翻译后修饰方式,在宿主防御病原微生物感染的动态调控过程中发挥着重要的作用.已有大量文献报道,天然免疫抗病毒信号通路中的多个关键接头分子可发生泛素化修饰,进而调控机体抗病毒免疫应答反应.本文综述了泛素化修饰在抗病毒天然免疫中的作用及其调控机制.     

病原DNA识别及其诱导天然免疫调节机制研究进展

机体天然免疫系统拥有一系列可以探测和抵制微生物侵袭的机制.目前,关于病原RNA的细胞内识别机制有了较为深入的研究和相关报道,但细胞内病原DNA的识别和相应的天然免疫应答机制仍未完全被揭示.阐明上述机制有助于了解和治疗一系列微生物感染相关的疾病,包括病毒和细菌感染类疾病、病毒相关的肿瘤、自身免疫性疾病等.近年来,细胞内多个充当"DNA传感器"的分子和干扰素调节分子被认为在细胞质DNA诱导宿主天然免疫反应过程中起着关键性调节作用.综述了对细胞内病原DNA的主要识别分子、信号通路以及相关的天然免疫调控机制.     

TLR9免疫识别CpG DNA的机制与途径

Toll样受体介导的信号转导通路在对抗外来病原微生物的天然免疫应答中起重要作用。新发现的Toll样受体9(TLR9)是哺乳动物识别细菌DNA中非甲基化的胞嘧啶-磷酸-鸟嘌呤基序(CpG DNA)的主要受体。经典的信号转导途径如NF-κB活化通路,MAPK通路在对CpG DNA的应答中均被启动。     

cGAS-STING信号通路在畜禽疾病中的研究进展

cGAS-STING信号通路是一种细胞内DNA感受器,可以识别自身病变或外部进入细胞质中的双链DNA。其不仅与肿瘤、病毒和细菌感染及自身免疫系统疾病密切相关,而且在非特异性免疫系统中发挥重要作用。截至目前,国内外对于cGAS-STING信号通路的研究主要集中在哺乳动物肿瘤相关性疾病及与先天性免疫系统相关的疾病中,而通路对畜禽疾病调控的影响机制非常重要。本文以cGAS-STING信号通路在宿主受到病原感染中发挥的作用为切入点,对其在不同畜禽病原感染中的调控作用进行综合论述,以期为畜禽疾病的防控提供理论依据和参考。     

抗病毒免疫中干扰素与炎症信号通路的交互调控：防御反应与维持稳态

天然免疫是机体通过识别自身或外部危险信号后,为维持体内稳态而逐步建立起来的一系列防御反应,当宿主细胞内的模式识别受体识别胞内病原相关分子模式后激活干扰素(interferon, IFN)、核因子-kappa B (nuclear factor-kappa B, NF-κB)和炎性小体等信号通路。IFNs在天然免疫应答中发挥重要作用,它诱导的抗病毒基因能够通过多种方式抵御病毒的感染,炎症反应则是机体自动的防御反应,能够在病毒感染机体时释放促炎性细胞因子以调控机体的免疫反应,进而发挥抗病毒作用。在病毒感染过程中,IFN信号通路与炎症反应调控网络中的关键分子如NF-κB/RelA、PKR等存在一定的交互作用,此外,IFN信号通路及其产生的细胞因子又影响其他信号通路的活化,进而调控机体的免疫应答以维持自身稳态,它们之间的交互调控失衡将会引起过度炎症反应,导致组织器官的免疫病理损伤,例如SARS-CoV-2感染机体时产生的过度炎症反应。本文综述了机体抗病毒免疫过程中干扰素信号通路与炎症反应之间的交互调控,为研发抗病毒策略提供新思路。     

DNA识别受体PYHIN家族及相关病毒免疫逃逸机制的研究

宿主细胞内的DNA识别受体可识别病毒核酸分子并激活细胞天然免疫反应,从而产生抗病毒效应;同时,病毒也进化出相应机制来逃避或抑制这种免疫反应。本文总结了宿主细胞内DNA识别受体PYHIN家族识别病毒核酸并激活细胞天然免疫反应的特点和分子机制,并讨论了病毒逃避宿主天然免疫应答的方式。     

Toll样受体识别机制及其生物学意义

Toll样受体介导的信号转导通路在对抗外来病原体的天然免疫应答中起重要作用。Toll样受体是一个天然模板识别受体家族,能识别固有性模板(微生物和哺乳动物所共有的病原相联的分子模板PAMPs)。Toll样受体通过巨噬细胞和其他免疫细胞来识别,其中TLR4识别内毒素、TLR2识别肽聚糖、TLR9识别细菌DNA、TLR5识别鞭毛蛋白、TLR3识别双链RNA等。本探讨了多种Toll受体家族成员在动物体内识别机理及功能,概述了其应用研究进展。     

长链非编码RNANRAV在抗病毒应答中对干扰素刺激基因(ISG)转录的调控作用

<正>天然免疫是宿主抵抗病毒的第一道防线。病毒侵染宿主后,宿主的病原识别受体(PRR)鉴别出病毒的核酸或蛋白质组分,激活抗病毒天然免疫应答。一系列天然免疫信号通路被PRR激活,通路下游的转录因子随之活化并进入细胞核,核内各种免疫相关基因依次开始转录调控。首先,干扰素大量表达并被分泌至细胞外,随后上百种干扰素刺激基因(ISG)转录表达。这些ISG蛋白分布至细胞内外,通过多种机制抵御病毒的感染复制,以清除机体内的病毒。长链非编码RNA(Long non-coding RNA,lnc RNA)是一类长度大于200nt、不具有蛋白编码特性的RNA分子。近年来大量实验证据表明,长链非编码RNA在细胞     

非洲猪瘟病毒拮抗宿主cGAS-STING信号通路的研究进展

非洲猪瘟病毒（African swine fever virus,ASFV）拥有多种逃逸宿主免疫应答的策略,造成病毒难以被宿主清除。cGAS-STING信号通路介导的天然免疫在抗ASFV感染中发挥了重要作用,然而病毒编码的多个蛋白靶向该通路中的不同分子以拮抗宿主的I型干扰素应答。利用基因编辑技术敲除这些病毒基因后,ASFV对宿主的致病性降低,成为基因缺失疫苗的研制潜在靶点。本文对目前已知参与调控宿主cGAS-STING信号通路的病毒蛋白进行总结,旨在阐明这些蛋白免疫逃逸cGAS-STING信号通路的分子机制,加深对ASFV免疫逃逸策略的理解,以期为ASFV致病机制研究与疫苗创制提供参考。     

TLR9介导CpG激活免疫细胞

机体的天然免疫 (ｉｎｎａｔｅｉｍｍｎｕｎｉｔｙ)在抵抗微生物感染中发挥重要作用。然而机体天然 (非特异性 )免疫系统识别病原微生物的机制尚未完全阐明。近来关于Ｔｏｌｌ样受体(ＴＬＲ)的研究表明 :病原微生物通过呈现多种具有保守序列的分子格局 (ｍｏｌｅｃｕｌａｒｐａｔ ｔｅｒｎ)被机体免疫细胞表面的格局识别受体(ｐａｔｔｅｒｎ ｒｅｃｏｇｎｉｔｉｏｎｐａｔｔｅｒｎ)识别 ,从而诱导天然免疫应答。ＴＬＲ家族是在进化中由昆虫到人类均保守的格局识别受体[1] 。而新近发现的ＴＬＲ9可能是哺乳类细胞识别细菌ＤＮＡ中免疫刺激序…     

The cGAS-STING pathway: Post-translational modifications and functional implications in diseases

Recent studies have illustrated the functional significance of DNA recognition in the activation of innate immune responses among a variety of diseases. The cyclic GMP-AMP synthase-stimulator of interferon genes (cGAS-STING) pathway has been found to be modulated by post-translational modifications and can regulate the immune response via type I IFNs. Accumulating evidence indicates a pivotal role of cGAS-STING signaling, being protective or pathogenic, in the development of diseases. Thus, a comprehensive understanding of the post-translational modifications of cGAS-STING pathway and their role in disease development will provide insights in predicting individual disease outcomes and developing appropriate therapies. In this review, we will discuss the regulation of the cGAS-STING pathway and its implications in disease pathologies, as well as pharmacologic strategies to target the cGAS-STING pathway for therapeutic intervention.     

Regulation of cGAS-STING signalling in cancer: Approach for combination therapy

Innate immunity plays an important role not only during infection but also homeostatic role during stress conditions. Activation of the immune system including innate immune response plays a critical role in the initiation and progression of tumorigenesis. The innate immune sensor recognizes pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and activates cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS)-stimulator of interferon genes (STING) (cGAS-STING) and induces type-1 immune response during viral and bacterial infection. cGAS-STING is regulated differently in conditions like cellular senescence and DNA damage in normal and tumor cells and is implicated in the progression of tumors from different origins. cGAS binds to cytoplasmic dsDNA and synthesize cyclic GMP-AMP (2’3’-cGAMP), which selectively activates STING and downstream IFN and NF-κB activation. We here reviewed the cGAS-STING signalling pathway and its cross-talk with other pathways to modulate tumorigenesis. Further, the review also focused on emerging studies that targeted the cGAS-STING pathway for developing targeted therapeutics and combinatorial regimens for cancer of different origins.     

Chemical regulation of the cGAS-STING pathway

Nucleic acids represent a major class of pathogen and damage signatures, recognized by a variety of host sensors to initiate signaling cascades and immune responses, such as mechanisms of RLR-MAVS, cGAS-STING, TLR-TRIF, and AIM2 inflammasome. Yet, an outstanding challenge is understanding how nucleic acid sensing initiates immune responses and its tethering in various infectious, cancerous, autoimmune, and inflammatory diseases. However, the discovery and application of a plethora of small molecule compounds have substantially facilitated this process. This review provides an overview and recent development of the innate DNA-sensing pathway of cGAS-STING and highlights the multiple agonists and inhibitors in fine-tuning the pathway that can be exploited to improve disease treatment, focusing primarily on crucial pathway components and regulators.     

RNF111-facilitated neddylation potentiates cGAS-mediated antiviral innate immune response

The cytosolic DNA sensor cyclic GMP-AMP (cGAMP) synthetase (cGAS) has emerged as a fundamental component fueling the anti-pathogen immunity. Because of its pivotal role in initiating innate immune response, the activity of cGAS must be tightly fine-tuned to maintain immune homeostasis in antiviral response. Here, we reported that neddylation modification was indispensable for appropriate cGAS-STING signaling activation. Blocking neddylation pathway using neddylation inhibitor MLN4924 substantially impaired the induction of type I interferon and proinflammatory cytokines, which was selectively dependent on Nedd8 E2 enzyme Ube2m. We further found that deficiency of the Nedd8 E3 ligase Rnf111 greatly attenuated DNA-triggered cGAS activation while not affecting cGAMP induced activation of STING, demonstrating that Rnf111 was the Nedd8 E3 ligase of cGAS. By performing mass spectrometry, we identified Lys231 and Lys421 as essential neddylation sites in human cGAS. Mechanistically, Rnf111 interacted with and polyneddylated cGAS, which in turn promoted its dimerization and enhanced the DNA-binding ability, leading to proper cGAS-STING pathway activation. In the same line, the Ube2m or Rnf111 deficiency mice exhibited severe defects in innate immune response and were susceptible to HSV-1 infection. Collectively, our study uncovered a vital role of the Ube2m-Rnf111 neddylation axis in promoting the activity of the cGAS-STING pathway and highlighted the importance of neddylation modification in antiviral defense.     

An emerging role for calcium signalling in innate and autoimmunity via the cGAS-STING axis

Type I interferons are effector cytokines essential for the regulation of the innate immunity. A key effector of the type I interferon response that is dysregulated in autoimmunity and cancer is the cGAS-STING signalling axis. Recent work suggests that calcium and associated signalling proteins can regulate both cGAS-STING and autoimmunity. How calcium regulates STING activation is complex and involves both stimulatory and inhibitory mechanisms. One of these is calmodulin-mediated signalling that is necessary for STING activation. The alterations in calcium flux that occur during STING activation can also regulate autophagy, which in turn plays a role in innate immunity through the clearance of intracellular pathogens. Also connected to calcium signalling pathways is the cGAS inhibitor TREX1, a cytoplasmic exonuclease linked to several autoimmune diseases including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In this review, we summarize these and other findings that indicate a regulatory role for calcium signalling in innate and autoimmunity through the cGAS-STING pathway.     

Establishment of ex vivo systems to identify compounds acting on innate immune responses and to determine their target molecules using transgenic Drosophila

Innate immunity is an evolutionarily conserved self-defense mechanism against microbial infections. In Drosophila, induction of antimicrobial peptides is a major immune response that is regulated by two distinct signaling pathways called the IMD pathway and the Toll pathway, similar to the tumor necrosis factor-alpha signaling and Toll-like receptor/interleukin-1 signaling pathways, respectively, in mammals. In mammals, innate immunity interacts with adaptive immunity and has a key role in the regulated immune response. Therefore, innate immunity is a pharmaceutical target for the development of immune regulators. Previously, based on the striking conservation between the mechanisms that regulate Drosophila immunity and human innate immunity, we established an ex vivo culture in which compounds acting on innate immunity can be evaluated using a reporter gene that reflects activation of the IMD pathway [Yajima et al. [Yajima, M., Takada, M., Takahashi, N., Kikuchi, H., Natori, S., Oshima, Y., Kurata, S., 2003. A newly established in vitro culture using transgenic Drosophila reveals functional coupling between the phospholipase A2-generated fatty acid cascade and lipopolysaccharide-dependent activation of the immune deficiency (imd) pathway in insect immunity. The Biochemical Journal 371(Pt 1), 205-210] Biochem J 371, 205-210]. Here, we combined the ex vivo culture with a reporter gene that reflects the heat shock response and demonstrated that the resulting systems are useful for screening compounds that act specifically on innate immunity, including mammalian innate immune responses. Identification of target molecules is essential for the development of more potent medicines with fewer side effects. In this study, we also established ex vivo systems capable of identifying target molecules of the identified compounds using targeted activation of the IMD pathway.     

Mitochondrial DNA in the regulation of innate immune responses

Mitochondrion is known as the energy factory of the cell, which is also a unique mammalian organelle and considered to be evolved from aerobic prokaryotes more than a billion years ago. Mitochondrial DNA, similar to that of its bacterial ancestor’s, consists of a circular loop and contains significant number of unmethylated DNA as CpG islands. The innate immune system plays an important role in the mammalian immune response. Recent research has demonstrated that mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) activates several innate immune pathways involving TLR9, NLRP3 and STING signaling, which contributes to the signaling platforms and results in effector responses. In addition to facilitating antibacterial immunity and regulating antiviral signaling, mounting evidence suggests that mtDNA contributes to inflammatory diseases following cellular damage and stress. Therefore, in addition to its well-appreciated roles in cellular metabolism and energy production, mtDNA appears to function as a key member in the innate immune system. Here, we highlight the emerging roles of mtDNA in innate immunity.