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Termination of STING responses is mediated via ESCRT-dependent degradation

ABSTRACT: cGAS-STING signalling is induced by detection of foreign or mislocalised host double stranded (ds)DNA within the cytosol. STING acts as the major signalling hub, where it controls production of type I interferons and inflammatory cytokines. Basally, STING resides on the ER membrane. Following activation STING traffics to the Golgi to initiate downstream signalling, and subsequently to endolysosomal compartments for degradation and termination of signalling. While STING is known to be degraded within lysosomes, the mechanisms controlling its delivery remain poorly defined. Here we utilised a proteomics-based approach to assess phosphorylation changes in primary murine macrophages following STING activation. This identified numerous phosphorylation events in proteins involved in intracellular and vesicular transport. We utilised high-temporal microscopy to track STING vesicular transport in live macrophages. We subsequently identified that the endosomal complexes required for transport (ESCRT) pathway detects ubiquitinated STING on vesicles, which facilitates the degradation of STING in murine macrophages. Disruption of ESCRT functionality greatly enhanced STING signalling and cytokine production, thus characterising a mechanism controlling effective termination of STING signalling.

SUBMITTER: Katherine Balka

PROVIDER: S-SCDT-10_15252-EMBJ_2022112712 | biostudies-other |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other

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Project description:The cGAS-STING pathway forms a major component of the innate immune system. cGAS-STING signalling is induced by detection of either foreign (i.e. pathogenic) or mislocalised host double stranded (ds)DNA present within the cytosol. STING acts as the major signalling hub, where it controls activation of transcription factors IRF3 and NF-B for expression of type I interferons and inflammatory cytokines, respectively. Under resting conditions STING resides on the ER membrane. However, following activation STING traffics to the Golgi to initiate downstream signalling, and subsequently to endolysosomal regions for degradation and termination of signalling. However, while STING is known to be degraded by lysosomes, the mechanisms controlling its delivery remain poorly defined. Here we utilised a mass spectrometry approach to assess phosphorylation changes in primary macrophages following STING activation. This identified a large number of phosphorylation events in proteins involved in intracellular transport, including vesicular trafficking. We utilised high-temporal microscopy to track STING vesicular transport in live macrophages. We observed that while macrophages exhibit rapid degradation of STING (i.e., 4-6 h), basal STING protein levels return slowly (i.e., >24 h). Despite STING protein recovery, ultimately macrophages remain unresponsive to re-challenge with STING ligands. Using a combination of imaging and biochemical approaches we subsequently identify that the endosomal complexes required for transport (ESCRT) pathway detects ubiquitinated STING on endosomes, which facilitates the degradation of STING. Disrupting ESCRT recognition of STING via knockdown of the ESCRT-0 component HRS or inhibiting ESCRT function via overexpression of a dominant negative form of VPS4a enhances STING signalling and cytokine production. Therefore, we have characterised the mechanisms that controls effective termination of STING signalling. Dysregulation of STING localisation or its degradation has been implicated in several diseases including autoimmune, autoinflammatory and neuroinflammatory diseases, hence a clearer understanding of STING degradation is imperative for a better understanding of STING-dependent disease pathologies.

Project description:α-synucleinopathy is driven by an imbalance of synthesis and degradation of α-synuclein (αSyn), causing a build up of αSyn aggregates and post-translationally modified species, which not only interfere with normal cellular metabolism but also by their secretion propagates the disease. Therefore, a better understanding of αSyn degradation pathways is needed to address α-synucleinopathy. Here, we used the nerve growth factor-differentiated catecholaminergic PC12 neuronal cell line, which was conferred α-synucleinopathy by inducible expression of αSyn and tubulin polymerization-promoting protein p25α. p25α aggregates αSyn, and imposes a partial autophagosome-lysosome block to mimic aspects of lysosomal deficiency common in neurodegenerative disease. Under basal conditions, αSyn was degraded by multiple pathways but most prominently by macroautophagy and Nedd4/Ndfip1-mediated degradation. We found that expression of p25α induced strong p38MAPK activity. Remarkably, when opposed by inhibitor SB203580 or p38MAPK shRNA knockdown, endolysosomal localization and degradation of αSyn increased, and αSyn secretion and cytotoxicity decreased. This effect was specifically dependent on Hsc70 and the endosomal sorting complex required for transport machinery, but different from classical microautophagy, as the αSyn Hsc70 binding motif was unnecessary. Furthermore, in a primary neuronal (h)-αSyn seeding model, p38MAPK inhibition decreased pathological accumulation of phosphorylated serine-129-αSyn and cytotoxicity. In conclusion, p38MAPK inhibition shifts αSyn degradation from various forms of autophagy to an endosomal sorting complex required for transport-dependent uptake mechanism, resulting in increased αSyn turnover and cell viability in p25α-expressing cells. More generally, our results suggest that under conditions of autophagolysosomal malfunction, the uninterrupted endosomal pathway offers a possibility to achieve disease-associated protein degradation.

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Termination of STING responses is mediated via ESCRT-dependent degradation

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