The emerging roles of the STING adaptor protein in immunity and diseases.

DNA that gains access to the cytoplasm generally serves as a danger signal for the hosts. An emerging paradigm for responding to cytosolic DNAs centres on the endoplasmic reticulum-resident protein stimulator of interferon genes (STING, also known as MITA, ERIS or MPYS), the hub adaptor of the recently identified DNA sensors. Dynamic regulations of STING action are critical for shaping innate immune responses against microbial infections, as well as for preventing autoimmune diseases. STING is also indispensable for the detection of immunogenic tumours. A deeper understanding of STING modulations could be instrumental for developing novel immunotherapeutic strategies against infectious, autoimmune and cancerous diseases. In this review, we summarize the latest advances on the role of STING in the DNA-triggered immune reactions, and underscore the critical issues that remain to be resolved in future studies.