Phase separation in immune regulation and immune-related diseases

Ning Huang; Hao Dong; Bin Shao

doi:10.1007/s00109-022-02253-9

Phase separation in immune regulation and immune-related diseases

J Mol Med (Berl). 2022 Oct;100(10):1427-1440. doi: 10.1007/s00109-022-02253-9. Epub 2022 Sep 9.

Authors

Ning Huang¹, Hao Dong¹, Bin Shao²

Affiliations

¹ State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
² State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China. sklbshaobin@scu.edu.cn.

Abstract

Phase separation is an emerging paradigm for understanding the biochemical interactions between proteins, DNA, and RNA. Research over the past decade has provided mounting evidence that phase separation modulates a great variety of cellular activities. Particularly, phase separation is directly relevant to immune signaling, immune cells, and immune-related diseases like cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and even SARS-CoV-2. In this review, we summarized current knowledge of phase separation in immunology and emerging findings related to immune responses as they enable possible treatment approaches.

Keywords: Autoimmunity; Cancer; Immunity; Inflammation; Phase separation.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

COVID-19*
Humans
Neurodegenerative Diseases*
SARS-CoV-2
Signal Transduction