A central scientific question of this competing renewal is the mechanistic understanding of the inflammatory responses to cytosolic DNA. To achieve our goals, we continue using the forward genetic analysis in the wild- derived mice of the MOLF strain that diverged from classical inbred (C57BL6) mice about 1 million years ago. A phenotype that provides preliminary data for this application is the defective IFN production in MOLF macrophages in response to DNA pathogens or cytosolic DNA - a condition conferred by a hypomorphic allele of Sting. In spite of the failure to produce IFN, activated MOLF macrophages overproduce IL-6. Other wild- derived strains exhibit similar skewing of responses to DNA-viruses and DNA. Based on these data, we hypothesized that in order to avoid IFN-mediated excessive inflammation, DNA sensing pathways must have evolved to complement IFN production, perhaps with less dangerous substitutes such as IL-6. Accordingly, we will determine how wild derived mice respond to cytosolic DNA with low IFN but high IL-6--a line of investigation that will ultimately identify genes (loci) responsible for IL-6 overproduction. In the first Aim, we will test the hypothesis that retention of STING in the ER is the mechanism of switching the DNA-responses from IFN to IL-6 production. Second, we will examine the potential contribution of other DNA-sensors and pathways into STING-mediated DNA-responses in MOLF. Finally, we will use STING congenic (B6.StingMOLF/MOLF) mice, which are completely non-responsive to DNA to genetically map and identify gene(s) that confer overproduction of IL-6 in MOLF in response to DNA. In extension of genetic analysis of the trait, we will study the responses to DNA in DNAse2-/- Sting MOLF/- mice. These mice are rescued from DNAse2-/- -associated embryonic lethality with the hypomorphic allele of Sting despite high levels of inflammatory cytokines in the blood and embryonic lethality of the DNAse2-/- Sting MOLF/- females. These data suggest that some uncharacterized STING-mediated signaling exists in these mice, which will be investigated in Aim 2 of the proposal. First, we will identify the DNA-responsive cells, and use single cell RNA-sequencing analysis in these cells to identify genes with expression levels associated with the inflammatory signature and DNA- responses. Despite being confined to eQTL (expression Quantitative Trait Loci), the single cell association studies in Aim 2 will potentially reveal all associations between the phenotype and the genes, some of which will not necessarily be mapped in Aim 1 and could be completely novel. Finally, based on embryonic lethality of the DNAse2-/- Sting MOLF/- females, we will investigate potential contributions of the X-linked Tlr7 and Tlr8 into STING-mediated responses. By investigating the mechanism of DNA responses in MOLF, we hope to provide better insight into the diversity of pathologies present in human patients with interferonopathies. !

Public Health Relevance

Responses to cytosolic DNA lead to production of type I Interferon (IFN) is an important immune regulator in homeostasis and pathology. We hypothesized that in response to DNA, production IFN may not be the default outcome and that some other pathways evolved to get activated. We will test this hypothesis by analysis of DNA-responses in wild derived mice of MOLF strain, where we identified a novel allele of important regulator of DNA-responses Tmem173, which downregulates potentially harmful type I interferon responses.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AI056234-16
Application #
10070071
Study Section
Immunity and Host Defense (IHD)
Program Officer
Davidson, Wendy F
Project Start
2003-09-01
Project End
2023-12-31
Budget Start
2021-01-01
Budget End
2021-12-31
Support Year
16
Fiscal Year
2021
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Tufts University
Department
Pathology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
039318308
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02111
Nikitin, Daniil; Penzar, Dmitry; Garazha, Andrew et al. (2018) Profiling of Human Molecular Pathways Affected by Retrotransposons at the Level of Regulation by Transcription Factor Proteins. Front Immunol 9:30
Liu, Beiyun C; Sarhan, Joseph; Panda, Alexander et al. (2018) Constitutive Interferon Maintains GBP Expression Required for Release of Bacterial Components Upstream of Pyroptosis and Anti-DNA Responses. Cell Rep 24:155-168.e5
Liu, Beiyun C; Sarhan, Joseph; Poltorak, Alexander (2018) Host-Intrinsic Interferon Status in Infection and Immunity. Trends Mol Med 24:658-668
Larkin, Bridget; Ilyukha, Vladimir; Sorokin, Maxim et al. (2017) Cutting Edge: Activation of STING in T Cells Induces Type I IFN Responses and Cell Death. J Immunol 199:397-402
Surpris, Guy; Chan, Jennie; Thompson, Mikayla et al. (2016) Cutting Edge: Novel Tmem173 Allele Reveals Importance of STING N Terminus in Trafficking and Type I IFN Production. J Immunol 196:547-52
Surpris, Guy; Poltorak, Alexander (2016) The expanding regulatory network of STING-mediated signaling. Curr Opin Microbiol 32:144-150
Najjar, Malek; Saleh, Danish; Zelic, Matija et al. (2016) RIPK1 and RIPK3 Kinases Promote Cell-Death-Independent Inflammation by Toll-like Receptor 4. Immunity 45:46-59
Ram, Daniel R; Ilyukha, Vladimir; Volkova, Tatyana et al. (2016) Balance between short and long isoforms of cFLIP regulates Fas-mediated apoptosis in vivo. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 113:1606-11
Schworer, Stephen A; Smirnova, Irina I; Kurbatova, Irina et al. (2014) Toll-like receptor-mediated down-regulation of the deubiquitinase cylindromatosis (CYLD) protects macrophages from necroptosis in wild-derived mice. J Biol Chem 289:14422-33
Moseman, Annie Park; Moseman, E Ashley; Schworer, Stephen et al. (2013) Mannose receptor 1 mediates cellular uptake and endosomal delivery of CpG-motif containing oligodeoxynucleotides. J Immunol 191:5615-24

Showing the most recent 10 out of 17 publications