Clinical Connections

Abnormal activation of pathways that detect nucleic acids has been linked to autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).SLE is a systemic autoimmune condition marked by immune reactions against nucleic acids, overactivation of the type I interferon (IFN-I) pathway, and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, including atherosclerosis.Liu et al demonstrated that the stimulator of IFN genes (STING), a sensor that detects nucleic acids inside cells, plays a key role in worsening autoimmunity, vascular damage, and atherosclerosis.