Sensing of viral lung infections by cGAS-STING

Lower respiratory tract infections caused over 4 million deaths per year worldwide, especially in low-income countries. Viral respiratory infections often occur as rapidly spreading seasonal endemic or epidemic, and sometimes due to new respiratory viruses including corona viruses. The first level o...

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Main Authors: Lei Fang, Michael Roth
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Open Exploration Publishing Inc. 2022-05-01
Series:Exploration of Immunology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.explorationpub.com/Journals/ei/Article/100352
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author Lei Fang
Michael Roth
author_facet Lei Fang
Michael Roth
author_sort Lei Fang
collection DOAJ
description Lower respiratory tract infections caused over 4 million deaths per year worldwide, especially in low-income countries. Viral respiratory infections often occur as rapidly spreading seasonal endemic or epidemic, and sometimes due to new respiratory viruses including corona viruses. The first level of host defense against viral infection is based on the innate immune system and intracellular killing mechanisms. The latter is activated by the release of viral DNA or RNA into the cytosol of the infected cells during the initial phase of virus replication. Viral DNA and RNA are recognized by the cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)-adenosine monophosphate (AMP) synthase (cGAS)–stimulator of interferon (IFN) genes (STING) sensing pathway, leading to the activation of type-I and -III IFN synthesis, with the aim to limit viral replication. However, the efficacy of the cGAS-STING sensing mechanism seems to vary with different viruses, and therefore, so is the efficacy of the host defense mechanism. Viral DNA can be sensed by different proteins including DNA-dependent activator of IFN regulating factor (DAI), cGAS, and toll-like receptor-9 (TLR-9). Viral RNA is recognized by retinoid acid-inducible gene 1 (RIG-1), TLR-7 and TLR-8. The question if cGAS also recognizes viral RNA remains unclear. The activation of IFN synthesis by cGAS is initiated by the recognition of purines and pyrimidines and their enzymatic conversion into cGMP and cyclic AMP (cAMP), followed by the activation of STING. In addition, it is indicated that several viruses can evade the cGAS-STING signaling and escape the host defense. This review aims to summarize the role of cGAS-STING as a host defense mechanism against viral respiratory tract infections.
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spelling doaj.art-4935d61b096a41e78abc14d2763e1eec2022-12-22T02:34:09ZengOpen Exploration Publishing Inc.Exploration of Immunology2768-66552022-05-012330331910.37349/ei.2022.00052Sensing of viral lung infections by cGAS-STINGLei Fang0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2568-730XMichael Roth1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8139-2821Pneumology and Pulmonary Cell Research, Departments of Biomedicine & Internal Medicine, University and University Hospital Basel, 4031 Basel, SwitzerlandPneumology and Pulmonary Cell Research, Departments of Biomedicine & Internal Medicine, University and University Hospital Basel, 4031 Basel, SwitzerlandLower respiratory tract infections caused over 4 million deaths per year worldwide, especially in low-income countries. Viral respiratory infections often occur as rapidly spreading seasonal endemic or epidemic, and sometimes due to new respiratory viruses including corona viruses. The first level of host defense against viral infection is based on the innate immune system and intracellular killing mechanisms. The latter is activated by the release of viral DNA or RNA into the cytosol of the infected cells during the initial phase of virus replication. Viral DNA and RNA are recognized by the cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)-adenosine monophosphate (AMP) synthase (cGAS)–stimulator of interferon (IFN) genes (STING) sensing pathway, leading to the activation of type-I and -III IFN synthesis, with the aim to limit viral replication. However, the efficacy of the cGAS-STING sensing mechanism seems to vary with different viruses, and therefore, so is the efficacy of the host defense mechanism. Viral DNA can be sensed by different proteins including DNA-dependent activator of IFN regulating factor (DAI), cGAS, and toll-like receptor-9 (TLR-9). Viral RNA is recognized by retinoid acid-inducible gene 1 (RIG-1), TLR-7 and TLR-8. The question if cGAS also recognizes viral RNA remains unclear. The activation of IFN synthesis by cGAS is initiated by the recognition of purines and pyrimidines and their enzymatic conversion into cGMP and cyclic AMP (cAMP), followed by the activation of STING. In addition, it is indicated that several viruses can evade the cGAS-STING signaling and escape the host defense. This review aims to summarize the role of cGAS-STING as a host defense mechanism against viral respiratory tract infections.https://www.explorationpub.com/Journals/ei/Article/100352asthmacgas-stingchronic obstructive pulmonary diseaserespiratory tract infectionviral host defense
spellingShingle Lei Fang
Michael Roth
Sensing of viral lung infections by cGAS-STING
Exploration of Immunology
asthma
cgas-sting
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
respiratory tract infection
viral host defense
title Sensing of viral lung infections by cGAS-STING
title_full Sensing of viral lung infections by cGAS-STING
title_fullStr Sensing of viral lung infections by cGAS-STING
title_full_unstemmed Sensing of viral lung infections by cGAS-STING
title_short Sensing of viral lung infections by cGAS-STING
title_sort sensing of viral lung infections by cgas sting
topic asthma
cgas-sting
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
respiratory tract infection
viral host defense
url https://www.explorationpub.com/Journals/ei/Article/100352
work_keys_str_mv AT leifang sensingofvirallunginfectionsbycgassting
AT michaelroth sensingofvirallunginfectionsbycgassting