STING-inflammasome axis in autoimmune diseases and inflammation-related disease

The STING-inflammasome axis predominantly functions to transmit signals generated from cGAS-STING-mediated cytosolic DNA recognition, thereby inducing and potentiating inflammasome activation and amplifying immune responses. However, under specific circumstances, the inflammasome can reciprocally modulate STING activity. This dynamic relationship comprises a canonical upstream-downstream activation cascade complemented by bidirectional interactions and feedback loops within the intricate immune regulatory network. Accumulating evidence underscores the pivotal involvement of the STING-inflammasome axis in diverse host defense mechanisms and inflammatory disorders, including autoimmune diseases, sterile inflammatory conditions, carcinogenesis, and neurodegenerative diseases. In this comprehensive review, we systematically summarize the current understanding of the contributions and underlying mechanisms of the STING-inflammasome axis in physiological and pathological processes. Additionally, we conduct an in-depth exploration of the translational potential of targeting this axis for preventive and therapeutic interventions, offering novel insights into future research directions and clinical applications.