Monocyte cell death induced by sting agonists combines apoptosis, pyroptosis and caspase 8 activation

Abstract

The cyclic GMP GMP-AMP synthase - stimulator of interferon genes (cGAS cGAS-STING) pathway recognizes double double-stranded DNA in cytoplasm. Activation of the pathway induces secretion of proinflammatory cytokines and subsequently regulates immune mechanisms. The pathway can also be triggered by small molecule molecule-based STING agonists. As such, the cGAS cGAS-STING pathway is of therapeutic interest in the field of viral infections and cancer Importantly, activation of the cGAS cGAS-STING pathway can also lead to cell death regulated 3 We previously demonstarted that STING agonists induce apoptosis in human monocytes, however, the precise processes involved are still under investigation.