Neuroinflammation and the cGAS-STING pathway

Abstract

The recent discovery of cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) as the mammalian cytosolic DNA sensor has profound therapeutic implications for infection, immunology, and cancer. Because neurovirology, neuroimmunology, neuro-oncology, and neurodegeneration implicate cytosolic DNA sensing, cGAS activation and induction of the downstream signaling protein stimulator of interferon genes (STING) has become increasingly recognized as a crucial determinant of neuropathophysiology. This Neuro Forum article reviews recent advances on the role of cGAS-STING signaling in neuroinflammation and neurological disease.

Keywords: STING; astrocyte; autoimmunity; cGAMP; cGAS; cytokine; encephalitis; interferon; microglia; neurodegeneration; neuroimmunology; neuroinflammation.