Gene array analysis of WT and SKO macrophages following engulfment of irradiated HEK 293 cells with/without double-stranded DNA. Gene array analysis of WT and SKO macrophages following engulfment of irradiated HEK 293 cells with/without double-stranded DNA

The ability of dying cells to activate antigen presenting cells (APCs) is carefully controlled to avoid unwarranted inflammatory responses. Here we show that engulfed cells only containing cytosolic dsDNA species (viral or synthetic) or cyclic di-nucleotides (CDNs) are able to stimulate APCs, via extrinsic STING-signaling. HEK293 cells containing double strand DNA robustly induced the production of cytokines in macrophages that was dependent on extrinsic STING signaling within the macrophage. Overall design: HEK293 cells were transfected by double-strand DNA for 3 hours and irradiated by UV (120mJ/cm). After 24 hours, the irradiated HEK293 cells were fed to WT or SKO macrophages for 6 hours.