Molecular mechanisms of mitochondrial DNA release and activation of the cGAS-STING pathway

In addition to constituting the genetic material of an organism, DNA is a tracer for the recognition of foreign pathogens and a trigger of the innate immune system. cGAS functions as a sensor of double-stranded DNA fragments and initiates an immune response via the adaptor protein STING. The cGAS-STING pathway not only defends cells against various DNA-containing pathogens but also modulates many pathological processes caused by the immune response to the ectopic localization of self-DNA, such as cytosolic mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and extranuclear chromatin. In addition, macrophages can cause inflammation by forming a class of protein complexes called inflammasomes, and the activation of the NLRP3…

• NR
  National Research Foundation
• KH
  Korea Health Industry Development Institute

  Award: HI14C1176
• NR
  National Research Foundation of Korea

  Award: RS-2023-00210934
• MO
  Ministry of Science and ICT, South Korea
• NI
  National Institutes of Health
• NH
  National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute