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A critical role for STING signaling in limiting pathogenesis of Chikungunya virus

ABSTRACT: The stimulator-of-interferon-gene (STING) pathway controls both DNA and RNA virus infection. STING is essential for induction of innate immune responses during DNA virus infection, while its mechanism against RNA virus remains largely elusive. We show that STING signaling is crucial for restricting Chikungunya virus infection and arthritis pathogenesis. Sting-deficient mice (Stinggt/gt) had elevated viremia throughout the viremic stage and viral burden in the feet transiently, along with a normal type I IFN response. Stinggt/gt mice presented much greater foot swelling, joint damage and immune cell infiltration than WT mice. Intriguingly, expression of interferon gamma and its induced Cxcl10 was continuously upregulated by ~7-10-fold, and further elevated in Stinggt/gt mice synchronously with arthritis progression. However, expression of chemoattractants for and activators of neutrophils, Cxcl5, Cxcl7 and Cxcr2 was suppressed in Stinggt/gt joints. These results demonstrate that STING deficiency leads to an aberrant chemokine response that promotes pathogenesis of CHIKV arthritis.

ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus

PROVIDER: GSE159450 | GEO | 2020/10/14

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:The pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is complicated and involves both innate and adaptive immunity [5]. The innate immunity such as macrophages or fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) in the synovium can generate inflammatory mediators, including TNF-α, IL-1, IL-6, IL-17, IFN-γ, and chemo kines that lead to synovial inflammation, bone erosion, and cartilage damage [6-8]. The IL-17 signaling mediates the autoantibody production in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) model [9]. However, the treatment response with an anti-IL17 monoclonal antibody in RA patients shows a high degree of heterogeneity [10]. The inhibitors of the Janus kinase (JAK) pathway are approved for RA patients [11]. These data suggest that the targeted multiple cytokines through the JAK pathway are useful for RA treatment. Disturbance of type I IFNs (IFNs-I) signaling and production drive autoimmune development [12]. The presymptomatic RA patients display an increase of IFNs-I before the onset of symptoms [13]. The RA patients also show the elevation of IFN- α in the synovial fluid and high expression of IFNs-I regulated gene in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) [14]. However, the role of IFNs-I in arthritis and bone homeostasis has suggested the accelerating effect of arthritis and bone damage. The interferon-alpha receptor knockout mice develop arthritis severity higher than wild-type mice in the model of antigen-induced arthritis [15]. IFNs-I also affects the bone homeostasis by inhibiting osteoclastogenesis via receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B (RANK) pathway, and reduction of c-FOS expression [16-18]. Therefore, the goal of RA treatment with antagonizing the IFNs-I pathway has to be optimized between efficacy and potentially adverse effect. STING is a cytosolic DNA sensor that initiates the production of IFNs-I. STING functions have been reported as both pro-inflammatory signaling and negative regulator against inflammation [19-21]. The mutation in exon 5 of the STING gene results in gain function leading to initiate inflammation and cause the Sting associated vasculopathy with onset in infancy (SAVI) [22]. Loss of STING function rescues DNaseII-deficient mice from lethality and polyarthritis [23]. However, Sting-deficient lupus mice (MRL/Lpr mice) show higher and earlier mortality than Sting-sufficient MRL/Lpr mice [24]. The pathology also shows lymphoid hypertrophy with a higher amount of macrophages and granulocytes infiltration, autoantibodies, and cytokine [24]. The objective of this study was to identify the role of STING in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis using collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) model as a representative model of the human RA.

Project description:Type I interferon (IFN) response is the most recognized signaling activity of STING, and IFN signaling is commonly believed to be the major (if not the sole) contributor to STING-mediated anti-viral and anti-cancer responses. Here, we genetically mutated mouse Sting serine 365 residue that is critically required for initiating IFN signaling. Sting-S365A mutation in mice precisely ablated IFN-dependent while preserving IFN-independent activities of STING. To our surprise, StingS365A/S365A mice protected against HSV-1 infection remarkably well, similar to wild type mice, while Sting–/– mice succumbed to infection very quickly. This challenges the current prevailing view and suggests that STING controls HSV-1 infection through IFN-independent activities. Transcriptomic analysis of wild type, Sting–/– and StingS365A/S365A macrophages and T cells stimulated with Sting agonist DMXAA revealed widespread IFN-independent activities of STING in both cell types and identified many T cell effector functions that are activated by STING independently of IFN. In mouse tumor models, we found that T cells in the tumor experience substantial cell death that was in part mediated by STING. Adoptively transferred Sting–/– T cells were more resistant to cell death in the tumor leading to more effective tumor control compared to wild type and StingS365A/S365A T cells. Together, our data demonstrate that mammalian STING possesses widespread IFN-independent activities that are functionally important for restricting Type I interferon (IFN) response is the most recognized signaling activity of STING, and IFN signaling is commonly believed to be the major (if not the sole) contributor to STING-mediated anti-viral and anti-cancer responses. Here, we genetically mutated mouse Sting serine 365 residue that is critically required for initiating IFN signaling. Sting-S365A mutation in mice precisely ablated IFN-dependent while preserving IFN-independent activities of STING. To our surprise, StingS365A/S365A mice protected against HSV-1 infection remarkably well, similar to wild type mice, while Sting–/– mice succumbed to infection very quickly. This challenges the current prevailing view and suggests that STING controls HSV-1 infection through IFN-independent activities. Transcriptomic analysis of wild type, Sting–/– and StingS365A/S365A macrophages and T cells stimulated with Sting agonist DMXAA revealed widespread IFN-independent activities of STING in both cell types and identified many T cell effector functions that are activated by STING independently of IFN. In mouse tumor models, we found that T cells in the tumor experience substantial cell death that was in part mediated by STING. Adoptively transferred Sting–/– T cells were more resistant to cell death in the tumor leading to more effective tumor control compared to wild type and StingS365A/S365A T cells. Together, our data demonstrate that mammalian STING possesses widespread IFN-independent activities that are functionally important for restricting HSV-1 infection, tumor immune evasion and likely also adaptive T cell immunity.

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A critical role for STING signaling in limiting pathogenesis of Chikungunya virus

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