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Review
. 2025 Jun;40(6):1381-1392.
doi: 10.1111/jgh.16974. Epub 2025 May 16.

cGAS-STING Pathway's Impact on Intestinal Barrier

Liqi Li  1 , Yingge He  2 , Yu Chen  3 , Xiaoshu Zhou  3
Affiliations
Review

cGAS-STING Pathway's Impact on Intestinal Barrier

Liqi Li et al. J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2025 Jun.

Abstract

Intestinal inflammation and increased permeability have been linked to metabolic dysregulation in patients with compromised intestinal barrier function. Among the pathways, garnering attention is the cyclic GMP-AMP synthase-stimulator of interferon genes (cGAS-STING) pathway. Upon binding to double-stranded DNA (dsDNA), cGAS catalyzes the conversion of ATP and GTP into cyclic GMP-AMP (cGAMP). Subsequently, cGAMP binds to STING, triggering the activation of tank-binding kinase 1 (TBK1), which activates interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3), thus inducing the production of type I interferon. Activated TBK1 can also induce the activation of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB), thus mediating the production of proinflammatory cytokines. The effects of this process vary among innate and adaptive immune cells, as well as intestinal epithelial cells (IECs). This review aims to elucidate the impact and role of the cGAS-STING pathway on intestinal barrier function.

Keywords: cGAS‐STING; inflammatory bowel disease; intestinal barrier function; intestinal ischemia/reperfusion injury.

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