Liquid-liquid phase separation in innate immunity

Dawei Liu; Jinhang Yang; Ileana M Cristea

doi:10.1016/j.it.2024.04.009

Liquid-liquid phase separation in innate immunity

Trends Immunol. 2024 May 17:S1471-4906(24)00097-8. doi: 10.1016/j.it.2024.04.009. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Dawei Liu¹, Jinhang Yang¹, Ileana M Cristea²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University; Princeton, NJ 08544, USA.
² Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University; Princeton, NJ 08544, USA. Electronic address: icristea@princeton.edu.

PMID: 38762334
DOI: 10.1016/j.it.2024.04.009

Abstract

Intrinsic and innate immune responses are essential lines of defense in the body's constant surveillance of pathogens. The discovery of liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) as a key regulator of this primal response to infection brings an updated perspective to our understanding of cellular defense mechanisms. Here, we review the emerging multifaceted role of LLPS in diverse aspects of mammalian innate immunity, including DNA and RNA sensing and inflammasome activity. We discuss the intricate regulation of LLPS by post-translational modifications (PTMs), and the subversive tactics used by viruses to antagonize LLPS. This Review, therefore, underscores the significance of LLPS as a regulatory node that offers rapid and plastic control over host immune signaling, representing a promising target for future therapeutic strategies.

Keywords: DNA sensing; LLPS; PTMs; RNA sensing; immune signaling; innate immunity; membraneless organelles; phase separation; post-translational modification; proteomics; viral infection.

Publication types

Review