When STING Meets Viruses: Sensing, Trafficking and Response

Front Immunol. 2020 Sep 29:11:2064. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.02064. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

To effectively defend against microbial pathogens, the host cells mount antiviral innate immune responses by producing interferons (IFNs), and hundreds of IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs). Upon recognition of cytoplasmic viral or bacterial DNAs and abnormal endogenous DNAs, the DNA sensor cGAS synthesizes 2',3'-cGAMP that induces STING (stimulator of interferon genes) undergoing conformational changes, cellular trafficking, and the activation of downstream factors. Therefore, STING plays a pivotal role in preventing microbial pathogen infection by sensing DNAs during pathogen invasion. This review is dedicated to the recent advances in the dynamic regulations of STING activation, intracellular trafficking, and post-translational modifications (PTMs) by the host and microbial proteins.

Keywords: DNA viruses; STING; cellular trafficking; immune responses; post translational modifications.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Allosteric Regulation
  • Animals
  • DNA, Viral / immunology*
  • Host-Pathogen Interactions
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Innate
  • Membrane Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Nucleotides, Cyclic / metabolism
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational
  • Virus Diseases / metabolism*

Substances

  • DNA, Viral
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Nucleotides, Cyclic
  • STING1 protein, human
  • cyclic guanosine monophosphate-adenosine monophosphate