RIG-I and IL-6 are negative-feedback regulators of STING induced by double-stranded DNA

PLoS One. 2017 Aug 14;12(8):e0182961. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0182961. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

The stimulator of interferon genes (STING) protein has emerged as a critical signal transduction molecule in the innate immune response. Sustained activation of the STING signaling induced by cytosolic DNA has been considered to be the cause of a variety of autoimmune diseases characterized by uncontrolled inflammation. Therefore, it is important to understand the molecular basis of the regulation of STING signaling pathway. Here we demonstrate that the STING protein undergoes a proteasome-mediated degradation in human diploid cell (HDC) lines including MRC-5 following the transfection of double-stranded DNA (dsDNA). The degradation of STING is accompanied by the increased expression of both RIG-I and IL-6. Employing the RIG-I siRNA knockdown and an IL-6 neutralizing antibody greatly inhibits the degradation of STING induced by dsDNA. We further demonstrate that both IL-6 and RIG-I are downstream molecules of STING along the DNA sensor pathway. Therefore, STING degradation mediated by RIG-I and IL-6 may serve as a negative feedback mechanism to limit the uncontrolled innate immune response induced by dsDNA. We have further shown that RIG-I and IL-6 promote STING degradation by activating/dephosphorylating UNC-51-like kinase (ULK1). Interestingly, the STING protein is not significantly affected by dsDNA in non-HDC HEK293 cells. Our study thus has identified a novel signaling pathway for regulating STING in HDCs.

MeSH terms

  • Autophagy-Related Protein-1 Homolog / metabolism
  • DEAD Box Protein 58 / metabolism*
  • DNA / metabolism*
  • Feedback, Physiological
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Interferon-beta / metabolism
  • Interleukin-6 / metabolism*
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Plasmids / metabolism
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex / metabolism
  • Proteolysis
  • Receptors, Immunologic
  • Virus Replication

Substances

  • Interleukin-6
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Receptors, Immunologic
  • STING1 protein, human
  • Interferon-beta
  • DNA
  • Autophagy-Related Protein-1 Homolog
  • ULK1 protein, human
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex
  • RIGI protein, human
  • DEAD Box Protein 58

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (H1609-81172102), the ‘Strategic Priority Research Program’ of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (XDA01030508), the ‘Nation’s Key Strategic Research Program’ of the ‘Nation’s 13-Five Plan in Science and Technology’ (2016YFA0101501), and the Science and Technology Project of Guangdong Province (2014B020226002). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.