Cellular stress signaling activates type-I IFN response through FOXO3-regulated lamin posttranslational modification

Nat Commun. 2021 Jan 28;12(1):640. doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-20839-0.

Abstract

Neural stem/progenitor cells (NSPCs) persist over the lifespan while encountering constant challenges from age or injury related brain environmental changes like elevated oxidative stress. But how oxidative stress regulates NSPC and its neurogenic differentiation is less clear. Here we report that acutely elevated cellular oxidative stress in NSPCs modulates neurogenic differentiation through induction of Forkhead box protein O3 (FOXO3)-mediated cGAS/STING and type I interferon (IFN-I) responses. We show that oxidative stress activates FOXO3 and its transcriptional target glycine-N-methyltransferase (GNMT) whose upregulation triggers depletion of s-adenosylmethionine (SAM), a key co-substrate involved in methyl group transfer reactions. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that reduced intracellular SAM availability disrupts carboxymethylation and maturation of nuclear lamin, which induce cytosolic release of chromatin fragments and subsequent activation of the cGAS/STING-IFN-I cascade to suppress neurogenic differentiation. Together, our findings suggest the FOXO3-GNMT/SAM-lamin-cGAS/STING-IFN-I signaling cascade as a critical stress response program that regulates long-term regenerative potential.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetylcysteine / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Cell Differentiation / drug effects
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Forkhead Box Protein O3 / metabolism*
  • Free Radical Scavengers / pharmacology
  • Glycine N-Methyltransferase / metabolism
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Herbicides / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Interferon Type I / metabolism*
  • Lamins / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Neural Stem Cells / cytology
  • Neural Stem Cells / drug effects
  • Neural Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Oxidative Stress*
  • Paraquat / pharmacology
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational*
  • S-Adenosylmethionine / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • Forkhead Box Protein O3
  • Free Radical Scavengers
  • Herbicides
  • Interferon Type I
  • Lamins
  • S-Adenosylmethionine
  • Glycine N-Methyltransferase
  • Paraquat
  • Acetylcysteine