The N-Terminal Domain of cGAS Determines Preferential Association with Centromeric DNA and Innate Immune Activation in the Nucleus

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Cytosolic RNA:DNA hybrids activate the cGAS–STING axis

Intracellular recognition of non‐self and also self‐nucleic acids can result in the initiation of potent pro‐inflammatory and antiviral cytokine responses. Most recently, cGAS was shown to be critical for the recognition of cytoplasmic dsDNA. Binding of dsDNA to cGAS results in the synthesis of cGAMP(2′–5′), which then binds to the endoplasmic reticulum resident protein STING. This initiates a signaling cascade that triggers the induction of an antiviral immune response. While most studies on intracellular nucleic acids have focused on dsRNA or dsDNA, it has remained unexplored whether cytosolic RNA:DNA hybrids are also sensed by the innate immune system. Studying synthetic RNA:DNA hybrids, we indeed observed a strong type I interferon response upon cytosolic delivery of this class of molecule. Studies in THP‐1 knockout cells revealed that the recognition of RNA:DNA hybrids is completely attributable to the cGAS–STING pathway. Moreover, in vitro studies showed that recombinant cGAS produced cGAMP upon RNA:DNA hybrid recognition. Altogether, our results introduce RNA:DNA hybrids as a novel class of intracellular PAMP molecules and describe an alternative cGAS ligand next to dsDNA.     

cGAS-STING信号通路：免疫监视的重要机制

免疫系统识别病原微生物的主要机制之一是识别其核酸。环磷酸鸟苷-腺苷合成酶(cGAS)是一种胞质DNA感受器,感知病原DNA后激活cGAS-STING通路。该通路不仅介导天然免疫应答以抵抗多种含DNA的病原微生物感染,还能感知肿瘤来源的DNA而产生抗肿瘤免疫应答。然而,自体DNA对cGAS-STING通路的异常激活也会导致自身免疫性和炎症性疾病。本文综述了cGAS-STING信号通路及其在抗病毒天然免疫中的调控作用与功能,阐述了cGAS-STING通路在抗病毒感染和疾病中发挥的作用。     

Mitochondrial inner membrane permeabilisation enables mtDNA release during apoptosis

During apoptosis, pro‐apoptotic BAX and BAK are activated, causing mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilisation (MOMP), caspase activation and cell death. However, even in the absence of caspase activity, cells usually die following MOMP. Such caspase‐independent cell death is accompanied by inflammation that requires mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) activation of cGAS‐STING signalling. Because the mitochondrial inner membrane is thought to remain intact during apoptosis, we sought to address how matrix mtDNA could activate the cytosolic cGAS‐STING signalling pathway. Using super‐resolution imaging, we show that mtDNA is efficiently released from mitochondria following MOMP. In a temporal manner, we find that following MOMP, BAX/BAK‐mediated mitochondrial outer membrane pores gradually widen. This allows extrusion of the mitochondrial inner membrane into the cytosol whereupon it permeablises allowing mtDNA release. Our data demonstrate that mitochondrial inner membrane permeabilisation (MIMP) can occur during cell death following BAX/BAK‐dependent MOMP. Importantly, by enabling the cytosolic release of mtDNA, inner membrane permeabilisation underpins the immunogenic effects of caspase‐independent cell death.     

Dampened STING-Dependent Interferon Activation in Bats

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cGAS/STING通路的生物学功能及其在细菌感染中的作用

先天免疫是宿主抵御外来病原体入侵的第一道防线,而模式识别受体(pattern recognition receptors,PRRs)是介导先天免疫应答关键分子。PRRs通过识别病原体相关分子模式(pathogen associated molecular patterns,PAMPs)来激活宿主先天免疫反应。二十一世纪先天免疫领域里程碑式发现-环磷酸鸟苷腺苷合成酶(cyclic GMP-AMP synthase,cGAS),cGAS在宿主先天免疫过程中发挥重要作用,通过识别外源DNA产生第二信使2’,3’-环化鸟苷酸腺苷酸(2’,3’-cyclic guanosine monophosphate adenosine monophosphate,2’,3’-cGAMP)来介导干扰素基因刺激因子(stimulator of interferon genes,STING)的活化,从而促进下游干扰素(IFN)和其他细胞因子分泌来发挥宿主的抗病毒反应。近年研究发现,cGAS/STING通路在宿主抗细菌感染过程中发挥着重要作用,同时细菌也进化出不同机制来拮抗cGAS/STING通路。本文主要对cGAS/STING通路的生物学功能及其在细菌感染中的作用进行综述,为进一步研发新型抗菌药物提供理论参考。