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Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein restricts cGAS/STING activation by dsDNA immune complexes
Giulia Maria Piperno, Asma Naseem, Giulia Silvestrelli, Roberto Amadio, Nicoletta Caronni, Karla Evelia Cervantes-Luevano, Nalan Liv, Judith Klumperman, Andrea Colliva, Hashim Ali, Francesca Graziano, Philippe Benaroch, Hans Haecker, Richard N. Hanna, Federica Benvenuti
Giulia Maria Piperno, Asma Naseem, Giulia Silvestrelli, Roberto Amadio, Nicoletta Caronni, Karla Evelia Cervantes-Luevano, Nalan Liv, Judith Klumperman, Andrea Colliva, Hashim Ali, Francesca Graziano, Philippe Benaroch, Hans Haecker, Richard N. Hanna, Federica Benvenuti
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Research Article Cell biology Immunology

Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein restricts cGAS/STING activation by dsDNA immune complexes

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Abstract

Dysregulated sensing of self–nucleic acid is a leading cause of autoimmunity in multifactorial and monogenic diseases. Mutations in Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (WASp), a key regulator of cytoskeletal dynamics in immune cells, cause autoimmune manifestations and increased production of type I IFNs by innate cells. Here we show that immune complexes of self-DNA and autoantibodies (DNA-ICs) contribute to elevated IFN levels via activation of the cGAS/STING pathway of cytosolic sensing. Mechanistically, lack of endosomal F-actin nucleation by WASp caused a delay in endolysosomal maturation and prolonged the transit time of ingested DNA-ICs. Stalling in maturation-defective organelles facilitated leakage of DNA-ICs into the cytosol, promoting activation of the TBK1/STING pathway. Genetic deletion of STING and STING and cGAS chemical inhibitors abolished IFN production and rescued systemic activation of IFN-stimulated genes in vivo. These data unveil the contribution of cytosolic self–nucleic acid sensing in WAS and underscore the importance of WASp-mediated endosomal actin remodeling in preventing innate activation.

Authors

Giulia Maria Piperno, Asma Naseem, Giulia Silvestrelli, Roberto Amadio, Nicoletta Caronni, Karla Evelia Cervantes-Luevano, Nalan Liv, Judith Klumperman, Andrea Colliva, Hashim Ali, Francesca Graziano, Philippe Benaroch, Hans Haecker, Richard N. Hanna, Federica Benvenuti

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