title: Regulation and function of the cGAS-STING pathway of cytosolic DNA sensing.
abstract: The recognition of microbial nucleic acids is a major mechanism by which the immune system detects pathogens. Cyclic GMP-AMP (cGAMP) synthase (cGAS) is a cytosolic DNA sensor that activates innate immune responses through production of the second messenger cGAMP, which activates the adaptor STING. The cGAS-STING pathway not only mediates protective immune defense against infection by a large variety of DNA-containing pathogens but also detects tumor-derived DNA and generates intrinsic antitumor immunity. However, aberrant activation of the cGAS pathway by self DNA can also lead to autoimmune and inflammatory disease. Thus, the cGAS pathway must be properly regulated. Here we review the recent advances in understanding of the cGAS-STING pathway, focusing on the regulatory mechanisms and roles of this pathway in heath and disease.
authors.affiliation: The Key Laboratory of Innate Immune Biology of Fujian Province, Biomedical Research Center of South China, College of Life Sciences, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, China.
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.|Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Lijun
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.|Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Zhijian J
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015551:Autoimmunity; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D003600:Cytosol / Q000378:metabolism*; D004247:DNA / Q000276:immunology*; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007157:Immunologic Surveillance; D007239:Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D007249:Inflammation; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology*; D009713:Nucleotidyltransferases / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D000099197:STING Protein; D000099235:Cyclic Guanosine Monophosphate-Adenosine Monophosphate Synthase
chemical_list: D000242:Cyclic AMP; D004247:DNA; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009713:Nucleotidyltransferases; C532857:STING1 protein, human; D000099197:STING Protein; C578390:cGAS protein, human; D000099235:Cyclic Guanosine Monophosphate-Adenosine Monophosphate Synthase