DAI (DLM-1/ZBP1) is a cytosolic DNA sensor and an activator of innate immune response

A Takaoka, ZC Wang, MK Choi, H Yanai, H Negishi… - Nature, 2007 - nature.com
A Takaoka, ZC Wang, MK Choi, H Yanai, H Negishi, T Ban, Y Lu, M Miyagishi, T Kodama
Nature, 2007nature.com
Central to innate immunity is the sensing of pathogen-associated molecular patterns by
cytosolic and membrane-associated receptors,,,. In particular, DNA is a potent activator of
immune responses during infection or tissue damage,,, and evidence indicates that, in
addition to the membrane-associated Toll-like receptor 9, an unidentified cytosolic DNA
sensor (s) can activate type I interferon (IFN) and other immune responses,,. Here we report
on a candidate DNA sensor, previously named DLM-1 (also called Z-DNA binding protein 1 …
Abstract
Central to innate immunity is the sensing of pathogen-associated molecular patterns by cytosolic and membrane-associated receptors,,,. In particular, DNA is a potent activator of immune responses during infection or tissue damage,,, and evidence indicates that, in addition to the membrane-associated Toll-like receptor 9, an unidentified cytosolic DNA sensor(s) can activate type I interferon (IFN) and other immune responses,,. Here we report on a candidate DNA sensor, previously named DLM-1 (also called Z-DNA binding protein 1 (ZBP1)), for which biological function had remained unknown; we now propose the alternative name DAI (DNA-dependent activator of IFN-regulatory factors). The artificial expression of otherwise IFN-inducible DAI (DLM-1/ZBP1) in mouse fibroblasts selectively enhances the DNA-mediated induction of type I IFN and other genes involved in innate immunity. On the other hand, RNA interference of messenger RNA for DAI (DLM-1/ZBP1) in cells inhibits this gene induction programme upon stimulation by DNA from various sources. Moreover, DAI (DLM-1/ZBP1) binds to double-stranded DNA and, by doing so, enhances its association with the IRF3 transcription factor and the TBK1 serine/threonine kinase. These observations underscore an integral role of DAI (DLM-1/ZBP1) in the DNA-mediated activation of innate immune responses, and may offer new insight into the signalling mechanisms underlying DNA-associated antimicrobial immunity and autoimmune disorders.
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