We report here the identification and characterization of a protein, ERIS, an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) IFN stimulator, which is a strong type I IFN stimulator and plays a pivotal role in response to both non-self-cytosolic RNA and dsDNA. ERIS (also known as STING or MITA) resided exclusively on ER membrane. The ER retention/ retrieval sequence RIR was found to be critical to retain the protein on ER membrane and to maintain its integrity. ERIS was dimerized on innate immune challenges. Coumermycin-induced ERIS dimerization led to strong and fast IFN induction, suggesting that dimerization of ERIS was critical for self-activation and subsequent downstream signaling.innate immunity ͉ type I IFN ͉ functional cDNA library screening ͉ cytosolic RNA and dsDNA ͉ ER retention signal M icrobial infection-induced host immune responses are initiated by the germline-encoded pattern recognition receptors, which recognize components specific to microorganisms. There are 3 major classes of such receptors: Toll-like receptors (TLRs), RIG-I-like helicases (RLHs) and NOD-like receptors (1). During infection, nucleic acids derived from microbes are recognized by TLRs and RLHs, which then trigger a series of signaling events leading to the production of type I IFNs and proinflammatory cytokines.RLHs have recently been identified to sense the invading viruses in the cytoplasm. Unlike TLRs, which are expressed in specific cells like macrophages and dendritic cells, RLHs are found in most cell types (2). They contain caspase recruitment domain (CARD) and DExD/H helicase domain. RLHs interact with microbial nucleotides through their helicase domain. The N-terminal CARDs are responsible for activating downstream signaling pathways that mediate type I IFN production. Genetic analyses demonstrate that RIG-I and MDA5 sense distinct types of viruses (3-5). RIG-I and MDA5 use a common adaptor molecule, IPS-1 (also known as Cardif, MAVS, or VISA) (6-9). IPS-1 is found to reside on the mitochondrial membrane by its C-terminal transmembrane (TM) domain. It also contains a CARD-like domain at its N-terminus, which mediates the interaction with MDA5 or RIG-I. IPS-1 transmits the signal to TANK-binding kinase-1 (TBK1)/I B kinase i (IKKi; also known as IKK ) and the IKK complex to activate interferon regulatory factor (IRF)-3/IRF-7 and NF-B, respectively, collectively eliciting innate antiviral immune responses, including type I IFN production.On the other hand, dsDNA in the cytosol, for example, genomic DNA from intracellular bacteria (e.g., Listeria, Legionella), also causes a strong host immune response independent of TLRs, leading to the induction of type I IFN. A recent report has indicated that the molecule DAI (also known as ZBP1) might serve as a cytosolic dsDNA sensor (10). However, ZBP1 Ϫ/Ϫ cells showed normal type I IFN production in response to dsDNA stimulation (11). Meanwhile, reports showed that IPS-1/Cardif/MAVS/VISA was not required for dsDNA-caused innate immune activation (12).The signaling induced by cytoplasmic dsDNA leading ...

MAVS is critical in innate antiviral immunity as the sole adaptor for RIG-I-like helicases. MAVS regulation is essential for the prevention of excessive harmful immune responses. Here we identify PCBP2 as a negative regulator in MAVS-mediated signaling. Overexpression of PCBP2 abrogated cellular responses to viral infection, whereas knockdown of PCBP2 exerted the opposite effect. PCBP2 was induced after viral infection, and its interaction with MAVS led to proteasomal degradation of MAVS. PCBP2 recruited the HECT domain-containing E3 ligase AIP4 to polyubiquitinate and degrade MAVS. MAVS was degraded after viral infection in wild-type mouse embryonic fibroblasts but remained stable in AIP4-deficient (Itch(-/-)) mouse embryonic fibroblasts, coupled with greatly exaggerated and prolonged antiviral responses. The PCBP2-AIP4 axis defines a new signaling cascade for MAVS degradation and 'fine tuning' of antiviral innate immunity.

STAT6 plays a prominent role in adaptive immunity by transducing signals from extracellular cytokines. We now show that STAT6 is required for innate immune signaling in response to virus infection. Viruses or cytoplasmic nucleic acids trigger STING (also named MITA/ERIS) to recruit STAT6 to the endoplasmic reticulum, leading to STAT6 phosphorylation on Ser(407) by TBK1 and Tyr(641), independent of JAKs. Phosphorylated STAT6 then dimerizes and translocates to the nucleus to induce specific target genes responsible for immune cell homing. Virus-induced STAT6 activation is detected in all cell-types tested, in contrast to the cell-type specific role of STAT6 in cytokine signaling, and Stat6(-/-) mice are susceptible to virus infection. Thus, STAT6 mediates immune signaling in response to both cytokines at the plasma membrane, and virus infection at the endoplasmic reticulum.

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