Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 29, 2026
11:44
Stimulation of Cytoplasmic DNA Sensing Pathways In Vitro and In Vivo
Published on: September 18, 2014
Cytosolic DNA sensors regulating type I interferon induction.
Sinead E Keating1, Marcin Baran, Andrew G Bowie
1School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland.
Trends in Immunology
|September 24, 2011
Summary
The discovery of DNA sensors, including AIM2-like receptors, explains how cells detect pathogen DNA to trigger a type I interferon response and why self-DNA can cause autoimmune diseases.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Type I interferon (IFN) induction is vital for anti-pathogen defense via innate immune stimulation.
- Pathogen DNA presence triggers a type I IFN response, but the underlying mechanisms are recently elucidated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review newly identified DNA sensors involved in innate immune sensing.
- To explore the implications of these sensors for understanding DNA sensing principles.
- To explain the link between self-DNA accumulation and IFN-dependent autoimmunity.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent discoveries in innate immunity and DNA sensing.
- Analysis of pattern recognition receptors, specifically AIM2-like receptors.
- Discussion of signaling pathways linking DNA detection to IFN responses.
Main Results:
- Identification of a new family of pattern recognition receptors: AIM2-like receptors (ALRs).
- Elucidation of key signaling proteins and DNA sensors regulating the type I IFN response.
- Establishment of a rationale for how self-DNA accumulation leads to autoimmunity.
Conclusions:
- AIM2-like receptors are critical components of the innate immune system's DNA sensing machinery.
- Understanding these sensors advances knowledge of innate immunity and autoimmune disease pathogenesis.
- The discovery provides a framework for investigating the role of DNA in immunity and disease.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Inhibitors of Viral Protein Synthesis
Protein synthesis is indispensable for viral replication, as viruses lack the cellular machinery required for this process and must hijack the host's translational apparatus. In response, host cells deploy a critical innate immune defense involving interferons, specialized cytokines that play a central role in inhibiting viral propagation.Upon viral detection, infected cells release interferons that bind to receptors on adjacent uninfected cells, activating the JAK-STAT signaling pathway and...
02:30siRNA - Small Interfering RNAs
Small interfering RNAs, or siRNAs, are short regulatory RNA molecules that can silence genes post-transcriptionally, as well as the transcriptional level in some cases. siRNAs are important for protecting cells against viral infections and silencing transposable genetic elements.
In the cytoplasm, siRNA is processed from a double-stranded RNA, which comes from either endogenous DNA transcription or exogenous sources like a virus. This double-stranded RNA is then cleaved by the ATP-dependent...
In the cytoplasm, siRNA is processed from a double-stranded RNA, which comes from either endogenous DNA transcription or exogenous sources like a virus. This double-stranded RNA is then cleaved by the ATP-dependent...
01:29Immune Response Against Viral Pathogens
The immune system's response to viral infections is a complex and coordinated process involving natural killer (NK) cells, T cell-mediated responses, and antibody-mediated responses.
NK Cells
NK cells are a crucial part of our innate immune system, acting as the first line of defense against viral infections. These cells can recognize and kill infected cells without prior exposure to the virus, effectively slowing down the spread of infection. Additionally, NK cells produce proinflammatory...
NK Cells
NK cells are a crucial part of our innate immune system, acting as the first line of defense against viral infections. These cells can recognize and kill infected cells without prior exposure to the virus, effectively slowing down the spread of infection. Additionally, NK cells produce proinflammatory...
02:26NF-κB-dependent Signaling Pathway
The transcription factor NF-κB was discovered in 1986 in the lab of Nobel laureate Professor David Baltimore, for its interaction with the immunoglobulin light chain enhancer in B-cells. After more than three decades of study, it is now evident that NF-κB regulates the expression of over 100 genes. Most of these genes play an essential role in the innate and adaptive immune responses as well as the inflammatory responses of animals.
NF-κB-dependent Signaling Mechanism
The heterodimer of NF-κB...
NF-κB-dependent Signaling Mechanism
The heterodimer of NF-κB...
02:02Cis-regulatory Sequences
Cis-regulatory sequences are short fragments of non-coding DNA that are present on the same chromosomes as the genes that they regulate. These fragments serve as binding sites for transcriptional regulators, proteins that are responsible for controlling gene transcription and differential gene expression across cell types in eukaryotes. Cis-regulatory sequences can be close to the gene of interest or thousands of bases away in the DNA sequence; however, those sequences that are further away are...
01:20The JAK-STAT Signaling Pathway
Several cytokine receptors have tightly bound Janus kinase or JAK proteins attached at their cytosolic tail. Small signaling molecules such as cytokines, growth hormones, or prolactins bind to the cytokine receptors and initiate their dimerization. The dimerization brings the cytosolic JAKs together that trans-phosphorylate and activates each other. The activated JAKs now phosphorylate cytosolic tails of the cytokine receptors, which serve as binding sites for adaptor proteins such as SH2...