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Human microglia and astrocytes express cGAS-STING viral sensing components
Austin M Jeffries1, Ian Marriott1
1Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, USA.
Neuroscience Letters
|August 24, 2017
Summary
Human microglia and astrocytes possess the cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS)-stimulator of interferon genes (STING) pathway, crucial for detecting intracellular DNA viruses. This finding explains how these glial cells sense viral threats in the central nervous system.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimmunology
- Virology
- Cellular Biology
Background:
- Microglia and astrocytes produce inflammatory mediators during viral infections.
- Mechanisms of threat detection by glial cells are not fully understood.
- Cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) is a known sensor for DNA viruses in other immune cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence and function of the cGAS-STING pathway in human microglia and astrocytes.
- To determine if glial cells can sense intracellular double-stranded DNA.
Main Methods:
- Utilized human microglial and astrocytic cell lines and primary human glia.
- Confirmed cellular response to foreign intracellular double-stranded DNA.
- Assessed protein expression of cGAS and STING.
Main Results:
- Human microglia and astrocytes respond to intracellular double-stranded DNA.
- These glial cells express significant levels of cGAS protein, both at rest and when activated.
- Constitutive expression of the downstream cGAS adaptor protein, STING, was observed in these cells.
Conclusions:
- Human microglia and astrocytes express the key components of the cGAS-STING pathway.
- This pathway is a likely mechanism for glial cells to detect viral infections in the central nervous system.
- Provides a basis for future research on viral CNS infections.
