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Review
. 2025 Apr;53(2):495-511.
doi: 10.1007/s15010-024-02429-0. Epub 2024 Nov 7.

The cGAS-STING pathway in HIV-1 and Mycobacterium tuberculosis coinfection

Xiaoxu Han #  1   2 , Xiuwen Wang #  1   2 , Fangping Han #  3   4 , Hongxia Yan  1   2 , Jin Sun  1   2 , Xin Zhang  1   2 , Christiane Moog  2   5   6 , Conggang Zhang  7   8 , Bin Su  9   10
Affiliations
Review

The cGAS-STING pathway in HIV-1 and Mycobacterium tuberculosis coinfection

Xiaoxu Han et al. Infection. 2025 Apr.

Abstract

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) infection is the most common opportunistic infection in human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1)-infected individuals, and the mutual reinforcement of these two pathogens may accelerate disease progression and lead to rapid mortality. Therefore, HIV-1/M. tuberculosis coinfection is one of the major global public health concerns. HIV-1 infection is the greatest risk factor for M. tuberculosis infection and increases the likelihood of endogenous relapse and exogenous reinfection with M. tuberculosis. Moreover, M. tuberculosis further increases HIV-1 replication and the occurrence of chronic immune activation, accelerating the progression of HIV-1 disease. Exploring the pathogenesis of HIV-1/M. tuberculosis coinfections is essential for the development of novel treatments to reduce the global burden of tuberculosis. Innate immunity, which is the first line of host immune defense, plays a critical role in resisting HIV-1 and M. tuberculosis infections. The role of the cyclic guanosine monophosphate-adenosine monophosphate synthase (cGAS)-stimulator of interferon genes (STING) signaling pathway, which is a major DNA-sensing innate immune signaling pathway, in HIV-1 infection and M. tuberculosis infection has been intensively studied. This paper reviews the role of the cGAS-STING signaling pathway in HIV-1 infection and M. tuberculosis infection and discusses the possible role of this pathway in HIV-1/M. tuberculosis coinfection to provide new insight into the pathogenesis of HIV-1/M. tuberculosis coinfection and the development of novel therapeutic strategies.

Keywords: Mycobacterium tuberculosis; HIV; Innate immune system; cGAS-STING pathway.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

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