Biomaterial Database

cGAS exacerbates Schistosoma japonicum infection in a STING-type I IFN-dependent and independent manner. 2022

Le Liang, and Yujuan Shen, and Yuan Hu, and Haipeng Liu, and Jianping Cao

National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, (Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research); Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, National Health Commission of People's Republic of China; World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases, Shanghai, China.

Schistosomiasis, which is caused by infection with Schistosoma spp., is characterized by granuloma and fibrosis in response to egg deposition. Pattern recognition receptors are important to sense invading Schistosoma, triggering an innate immune response, and subsequently shaping adaptive immunity. Cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) was identified as a major cytosolic DNA sensor, which catalyzes the formation of cyclic GMP-AMP (cGAMP), a critical second messenger for the activation of the adaptor protein stimulator of interferon genes (STING). The engagement of STING by cGAMP leads to the activation of TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1), interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3), and the subsequent type I interferon (IFN) response. cGAS is suggested to regulate infectious diseases, autoimmune diseases, and cancer. However, the function of cGAS in helminth infection is unclear. In this study, we found that Cgas deficiency enhanced the survival of mice infected with S. japonicum markedly, without affecting the egg load in the liver. Consistently, Cgas deletion alleviated liver pathological impairment, reduced egg granuloma formation, and decreased fibrosis severity. In contrast, Sting deletion reduced the formation of egg granulomas markedly, but not liver fibrosis. Notably, Cgas or Sting deficiency reduced the production of IFNβ drastically in mice infected with S. japonicum. Intriguingly, intravenous administration of recombinant IFNβ exacerbated liver damage and promoted egg granuloma formation, without affecting liver fibrosis. Clodronate liposome-mediated depletion of macrophages indicated that macrophages are the major type of cells contributing to the induction of the type I IFN response during schistosome infection. Moreover, cGAS is important for type I IFN production and phosphorylation of TBK1 and IRF3 in response to stimulation with S. japonicum egg- or adult worm-derived DNA in macrophages. Our results clarified the immunomodulatory effect of cGAS in the regulation of liver granuloma formation during S. japonicum infection, involving sensing schistosome-derived DNA and producing type I IFN. Additionally, we showed that cGAS regulates liver fibrosis in a STING-type I-IFN-independent manner.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007109	Immunity	Nonsusceptibility to the invasive or pathogenic effects of foreign microorganisms or to the toxic effect of antigenic substances.	Immune Process,Immune Response,Immune Processes,Immune Responses,Process, Immune,Response, Immune
D007370	Interferon Type I	Interferon secreted by leukocytes, fibroblasts, or lymphoblasts in response to viruses or interferon inducers other than mitogens, antigens, or allo-antigens. They include alpha- and beta-interferons (INTERFERON-ALPHA and INTERFERON-BETA).	Interferons Type I,Type I Interferon,Type I Interferons,Interferon, Type I,Interferons, Type I
D008565	Membrane Proteins	Proteins which are found in membranes including cellular and intracellular membranes. They consist of two types, peripheral and integral proteins. They include most membrane-associated enzymes, antigenic proteins, transport proteins, and drug, hormone, and lectin receptors.	Cell Membrane Protein,Cell Membrane Proteins,Cell Surface Protein,Cell Surface Proteins,Integral Membrane Proteins,Membrane-Associated Protein,Surface Protein,Surface Proteins,Integral Membrane Protein,Membrane Protein,Membrane-Associated Proteins,Membrane Associated Protein,Membrane Associated Proteins,Membrane Protein, Cell,Membrane Protein, Integral,Membrane Proteins, Integral,Protein, Cell Membrane,Protein, Cell Surface,Protein, Integral Membrane,Protein, Membrane,Protein, Membrane-Associated,Protein, Surface,Proteins, Cell Membrane,Proteins, Cell Surface,Proteins, Integral Membrane,Proteins, Membrane,Proteins, Membrane-Associated,Proteins, Surface,Surface Protein, Cell
D008810	Mice, Inbred C57BL	One of the first INBRED MOUSE STRAINS to be sequenced. This strain is commonly used as genetic background for transgenic mouse models. Refractory to many tumors, this strain is also preferred model for studying role of genetic variations in development of diseases.	Mice, C57BL,Mouse, C57BL,Mouse, Inbred C57BL,C57BL Mice,C57BL Mice, Inbred,C57BL Mouse,C57BL Mouse, Inbred,Inbred C57BL Mice,Inbred C57BL Mouse
D009713	Nucleotidyltransferases	A class of enzymes that transfers nucleotidyl residues. EC 2.7.7.	Nucleotidyltransferase
D005260	Female		Females
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D012552	Schistosomiasis	Infection with flukes (trematodes) of the genus SCHISTOSOMA. Three species produce the most frequent clinical diseases: SCHISTOSOMA HAEMATOBIUM (endemic in Africa and the Middle East), SCHISTOSOMA MANSONI (in Egypt, northern and southern Africa, some West Indies islands, northern 2/3 of South America), and SCHISTOSOMA JAPONICUM (in Japan, China, the Philippines, Celebes, Thailand, Laos). S. mansoni is often seen in Puerto Ricans living in the United States.	Bilharziasis,Katayama Fever,Schistoma Infection,Bilharziases,Fever, Katayama,Infection, Schistoma,Infections, Schistoma,Schistoma Infections,Schistosomiases
D012554	Schistosomiasis japonica	Schistosomiasis caused by Schistosoma japonicum. It is endemic in the ASIA, EASTERN and affects the bowel, liver, and spleen.	Schistosoma japonicum Infection,Schistosomiasis japonicum,Infection, Schistosoma japonicum,Infections, Schistosoma japonicum,Schistosoma japonicum Infections
D015398	Signal Transduction	The intracellular transfer of information (biological activation/inhibition) through a signal pathway. In each signal transduction system, an activation/inhibition signal from a biologically active molecule (hormone, neurotransmitter) is mediated via the coupling of a receptor/enzyme to a second messenger system or to an ion channel. Signal transduction plays an important role in activating cellular functions, cell differentiation, and cell proliferation. Examples of signal transduction systems are the GAMMA-AMINOBUTYRIC ACID-postsynaptic receptor-calcium ion channel system, the receptor-mediated T-cell activation pathway, and the receptor-mediated activation of phospholipases. Those coupled to membrane depolarization or intracellular release of calcium include the receptor-mediated activation of cytotoxic functions in granulocytes and the synaptic potentiation of protein kinase activation. Some signal transduction pathways may be part of larger signal transduction pathways; for example, protein kinase activation is part of the platelet activation signal pathway.	Cell Signaling,Receptor-Mediated Signal Transduction,Signal Pathways,Receptor Mediated Signal Transduction,Signal Transduction Pathways,Signal Transduction Systems,Pathway, Signal,Pathway, Signal Transduction,Pathways, Signal,Pathways, Signal Transduction,Receptor-Mediated Signal Transductions,Signal Pathway,Signal Transduction Pathway,Signal Transduction System,Signal Transduction, Receptor-Mediated,Signal Transductions,Signal Transductions, Receptor-Mediated,System, Signal Transduction,Systems, Signal Transduction,Transduction, Signal,Transductions, Signal