Zhongxin.com, Beijing, February 22 (Reporter Li Chun) The team of Dr. Li Tao and the team of Academician Zhang Xuemin of the Military Medical Research Institute of the PLA Academy of Military Sciences successfully discovered the important regulation of the cell-gate adenylate synthase (cGAS) against viral infection. mechanism. The international top academic journal "Cell" has published relevant research papers online in the early morning of the 22nd Beijing time.
Paper Corresponding author: Zhang Xuemin Chinese Academy of Sciences. Photo courtesy of the Military Medical Research Institute
From left to right: the first author of the paper, He Xinhua, Dai Jiang, Huang Yijiao, and the author of the paper, Li Tao. Photograph by Chen Xianli
A deep understanding of the body's antiviral mechanisms is seen as the key to dealing with viral infections. According to experts, more than 1.5 million viruses with pathogenicity to humans have been discovered. Zhang Xuemin said that scientists hope to look for a "public program" against viral infections from a common point of view, and to analyze the body's ability to evolve viral immunity. "With the constant change, we may be able to cope with any virus attack. This is the original intention of our research."
Research team members jointly observed molecular images and exchanged findings. Photo by Yue Hengbing
Li Tao said that when the virus invades the body, its own genetic material (such as DNA) will be brought into the host's cells, triggering the body's rapid immune response against these foreign DNA to eliminate viral infection. Studies have found that cGAS proteins, which act as DNA receptors, play a key role in triggering autoimmune responses. “Features are like door gods, preventing bad things from coming into the house.”
On the other hand, abnormal activation of cGAS is also a key cause of autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus. "Looking for ways to effectively regulate cGAS activity and explore its mechanisms are essential for combating viral infections, prevention and control of major infectious diseases, and treatment of autoimmune diseases," Li Tao said.
Dr. Li Tao and team researchers are in the laboratory. Photo by Yue Hengbing
Exploring the "working mechanism" of the "gate god" as the cell "watching home" is the starting point of this Chinese scientist's research. After nearly five years of research, the research team found that acetylation is a key molecular event controlling cGAS activity, and acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) can forcibly cacetylate acetylation and inhibit its activity. The researchers then validated the findings.
Zhang Shitao, dean of the Military Medical Research Institute, believes that this discovery not only reveals the new targets and molecular mechanisms of aspirin acting on the human body, but also provides a potential treatment for a class of currently untreated autoimmune diseases.
Academician Zhang Xuemin organized a research team to exchange the latest research progress. 阚少龙photo
"Without breakthroughs in basic research, it is difficult to apply research." Zhang Xuemin said that this research is a revealing of the regulation of the body's resistance to viral infection and an important advance in the frontier of basic life science research. He also said that it takes a long process from the breakthrough of basic research to the fact that the results show practical effects. Next, the research team will explore further ways to improve the efficiency of aspirin acetylation, find more effective inhibitors, and gain cGAS to treat tumors.
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