Absent in Melanoma 2 Mediates Inflammasome Signaling Activation againstInfection.

Abstract

Absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2), a key component of the IFI20X/IFI16 (PYHIN) protein family, is characterized as a DNA sensor to detect cytosolic bacteria and DNA viruses. However, little is known about its immunological role during pathogenic(.) infection, an extracellular bacterial pathogen. In a pathogenic.gas gangrene model,mice are more susceptible to pathogenic.soft tissue infection, revealing the importance of AIM2 in host protection. Notably,deficiency leads to a defect in bacterial killing and clearance. Our in vivo and in vitro findings further establish that inflammasome signaling is impaired in the absence ofin response to pathogenic.. Mechanistically, inflammasome signaling downstream of active AIM2 promotes pathogen control. Importantly, pathogenic.-derived genomic DNA triggers inflammasome signaling activation in an AIM2-dependent manner. Thus, these observations uncover a central role for AIM2 in host defense and triggering innate immunity to combat pathogenic.infections.