Mycobacterial ESAT-6 triggers cGAS-STING pathway via the GSDMD-NT dependent mitochondria dysfunction.

ABSTRACT: Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) remains a global health threat due to its ability to subvert host immune responses. Emerging evidence suggests that Mtb infection induces the production of type I interferons (IFNs), during which cGAS directly binds to Mtb genomic DNA. Here, we demonstrate that ESAT-6, a secreted virulence factor of Mtb, potently induces type I interferon (IFN) responses through a cGAS/STING-dependent signaling axis. Genetic ablation and pharmacological inhibition of cGAS or STING abolished ESAT-6-induced IFN-β production. Mechanistically, ESAT-6 induces mitochondrial dysfunction, characterized by mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) release and mitochondrial ROS (mtROS) production. Further investigation revealed that ESAT-6 triggers GSDMD cleavage,

SUBMITTER: Yang Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12530495 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature