Termination of STING responses is mediated via ESCRT-dependent degradation

ABSTRACT: 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.

INSTRUMENT(S): Q Exactive HF

ORGANISM(S): Mus Musculus (mouse)

SUBMITTER: Ralf Schittenhelm  

LAB HEAD: Dominic De Nardo

PROVIDER: PXD037108 | Pride | 2023-05-05

REPOSITORIES: Pride