cGAS exacerbates Schistosoma japonicum infection in a STING-type I IFN-dependent and independent manner

PLoS Pathog. 2022 Feb 2;18(2):e1010233. doi: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010233. eCollection 2022 Feb.

Abstract

Schistosomiasis, which is caused by infection with Schistosoma spp., is characterized by granuloma and fibrosis in response to egg deposition. Pattern recognition receptors are important to sense invading Schistosoma, triggering an innate immune response, and subsequently shaping adaptive immunity. Cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) was identified as a major cytosolic DNA sensor, which catalyzes the formation of cyclic GMP-AMP (cGAMP), a critical second messenger for the activation of the adaptor protein stimulator of interferon genes (STING). The engagement of STING by cGAMP leads to the activation of TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1), interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3), and the subsequent type I interferon (IFN) response. cGAS is suggested to regulate infectious diseases, autoimmune diseases, and cancer. However, the function of cGAS in helminth infection is unclear. In this study, we found that Cgas deficiency enhanced the survival of mice infected with S. japonicum markedly, without affecting the egg load in the liver. Consistently, Cgas deletion alleviated liver pathological impairment, reduced egg granuloma formation, and decreased fibrosis severity. In contrast, Sting deletion reduced the formation of egg granulomas markedly, but not liver fibrosis. Notably, Cgas or Sting deficiency reduced the production of IFNβ drastically in mice infected with S. japonicum. Intriguingly, intravenous administration of recombinant IFNβ exacerbated liver damage and promoted egg granuloma formation, without affecting liver fibrosis. Clodronate liposome-mediated depletion of macrophages indicated that macrophages are the major type of cells contributing to the induction of the type I IFN response during schistosome infection. Moreover, cGAS is important for type I IFN production and phosphorylation of TBK1 and IRF3 in response to stimulation with S. japonicum egg- or adult worm-derived DNA in macrophages. Our results clarified the immunomodulatory effect of cGAS in the regulation of liver granuloma formation during S. japonicum infection, involving sensing schistosome-derived DNA and producing type I IFN. Additionally, we showed that cGAS regulates liver fibrosis in a STING-type I-IFN-independent manner.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Female
  • Immunity
  • Interferon Regulatory Factor-3 / metabolism
  • Interferon Type I / immunology*
  • Interferon Type I / metabolism
  • Membrane Proteins / immunology*
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Nucleotidyltransferases / immunology*
  • Nucleotidyltransferases / metabolism
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism
  • Schistosomiasis / immunology*
  • Schistosomiasis / parasitology*
  • Schistosomiasis japonica / immunology*
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • Interferon Regulatory Factor-3
  • Interferon Type I
  • Irf3 protein, mouse
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Sting1 protein, mouse
  • Tbk1 protein, mouse
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Nucleotidyltransferases
  • cGAS protein, mouse

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the National Nature Science Foundation of China (Nos. 81772225 and 81971969 to JC) and the Fifth Round of Three-Year Public Health Action Plan of Shanghai [grant number GWV-10.1-XK13 to JC]. The funders had no role in the study design, data collection, and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.