Nucleic Acid Sensing by STING Induces an IFN-like Antiviral Response in a Marine Invertebrate

In this study, we present evidence demonstrating that STING, an ortholog found in a marine invertebrate (shrimp) called Litopenaeus vannamei, can directly detect DNA and initiate an IFN-like antiviral response. Unlike its homologs in other eukaryotic organisms, which exclusively function as sensors for cyclic dinucleotides, shrimp STING has the ability to bind to both double-stranded DNA and cyclic dinucleotides, including 2'3'-cGAMP. In vivo, shrimp STING can directly sense DNA nucleic acids from an infected virus, accelerate IFN regulatory factor dimerization and nuclear translocation, induce the expression of an IFN functional analog protein (Vago4), and finally establish an antiviral state. Taken together, our findings unveil a novel double-stranded DNA-STING-IKKε-IRF-Vago antiviral axis in an arthropod, providing valuable insights into the functional origins of DNA-sensing pathways in evolution.PMID:38700419 | DOI:10.4049/jimmunol.2300669
Source: Journal of Immunology - Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Source Type: research