Cutting edge: STING mediates protection against colorectal tumorigenesis by governing the magnitude of intestinal inflammation

Q Zhu, SM Man, P Gurung, Z Liu, P Vogel… - The Journal of …, 2014 - journals.aai.org
The Journal of Immunology, 2014journals.aai.org
Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) is a cytoplasmic innate immune sensor for cyclic
dinucleotides that also serves a dual role as an adaptor molecule for a number of
intracellular DNA receptors. Although STING has important functions in the host defense
against pathogens and autoimmune diseases, its physiological role in cancer is unknown. In
this study, we show that STING-deficient mice are highly susceptible to colitis-associated
colorectal cancer. Colons of STING-deficient mice exhibit significant intestinal damage and …
Abstract
Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) is a cytoplasmic innate immune sensor for cyclic dinucleotides that also serves a dual role as an adaptor molecule for a number of intracellular DNA receptors. Although STING has important functions in the host defense against pathogens and autoimmune diseases, its physiological role in cancer is unknown. In this study, we show that STING-deficient mice are highly susceptible to colitis-associated colorectal cancer. Colons of STING-deficient mice exhibit significant intestinal damage and overt proliferation during early stages of tumorigenesis. Moreover, STING-deficient mice fail to restrict activation of the NF-κB–and STAT3-signaling pathways, which leads to increased levels of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-6 and KC. Therefore, our results identified an unexpected and important role for STING in mediating protection against colorectal tumorigenesis.
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