Interstitial lung disease and the STING pathway.

Abstract

Identification of the genetic mutations underlying the ultrarare monogenic conditions STING-associated vasculopathy with onset in infancy (SAVI) and coatomer protein complex subunit alpha (COPA) syndrome revealed a role for the stimulator of interferon genes (STING) immune pathway in the pathogenesis of interstitial lung disease (ILD) in these conditions. STING-focused therapeutics could be a potential avenue for the treatment of SAVI and COPA syndrome in the future, yet the relevance of STING to more common types of ILD is not clear. Here, we provide an overview of SAVI and COPA syndrome, the nature of ILD in these conditions, and current evidence regarding STING activity in their pathogenesis. We discuss data from studies of a variety of other ILDs and model systems and explore the potential role for STING in more common forms of ILD.