Interferon-inducible protein AIM2 also known as absent in melanoma 2 or simply AIM2 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the AIM2gene.[1][2] Recent research has shown that AIM2 is part of the inflammasome and contributes to the defence against bacterial and viral DNA.[3]
AIM2 is a 343 amino acid protein with a N-terminal DAPIN (or pyrin) domain (amino acids 1-87) and a C-terminal HIN-200 domain (amino acids 138-337), which is known to have two oligonucleotide-binding folds.[4]
Though there has been virtually no biochemistry performed, a model based on cell-based or in vivo experiments has led to the current model of how AIM2 triggers the inflammasome. The C-terminal HIN domain binds double stranded DNA (either viral, bacterial, or even host) and acts as a cytosolic dsDNA sensor. This leads to the oligomerization of the inflammasome complex. The N-terminal pyrin domain of AIM2 interacts with the pyrin domain of another protein ASC (or Apoptosis-associated Speck-like protein containing a caspase activation and recruitment domain). ASC also contains a CARD domain (caspase activation and recruitment domain), that recruits procaspase-1 to the complex. This leads to the autoactivation of caspase-1, an enzyme that processes proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1b and IL-18).[3]
AIM2 inflammasome is activated by pharmacological disruption of nuclear envelope integrity.[5]
Clinical relevance
Elevated levels of AIM2 expression are found in skin cells from people with psoriasis.[6] In systemic lupus erythematosus, lysosome dysfunction allows DNA to gain access to the cytosol and activate AIM2 resulting in increased type 1 interferon production.[7]
References
↑DeYoung KL, Ray ME, Su YA, Anzick SL, Johnstone RW, Trapani JA, Meltzer PS, Trent JM (Aug 1997). "Cloning a novel member of the human interferon-inducible gene family associated with control of tumorigenicity in a model of human melanoma". Oncogene. 15 (4): 453–7. doi:10.1038/sj.onc.1201206. PMID9242382.
↑Monteith AJ, Kang S, Scott E, Hillman K, Rajfur Z, Jacobson K, Costello MJ, Vilen BJ (April 2016). "Defects in lysosomal maturation facilitate the activation of innate sensors in systemic lupus erythematosus". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 113 (15): E2142–51. doi:10.1073/pnas.1513943113. PMID27035940.
Landolfo S, Gariglio M, Gribaudo G, Lembo D (1999). "The Ifi 200 genes: an emerging family of IFN-inducible genes". Biochimie. 80 (8–9): 721–8. doi:10.1016/S0300-9084(99)80025-X. PMID9865494.
Woerner SM, Kloor M, Schwitalle Y, Youmans H, von Knebel Doeberitz M, Gebert J, Dihlmann S (2007). "The putative tumor suppressor AIM2 is frequently affected by different genetic alterations in microsatellite unstable colon cancers". Genes Chromosomes Cancer. 46 (12): 1080–9. doi:10.1002/gcc.20493. PMID17726700.
Chen IF, Ou-Yang F, Hung JY, Liu JC, Wang H, Wang SC, Hou MF, Hortobagyi GN, Hung MC (2006). "AIM2 suppresses human breast cancer cell proliferation in vitro and mammary tumor growth in a mouse model". Mol. Cancer Ther. 5 (1): 1–7. doi:10.1158/1535-7163.MCT-05-0310. PMID16432157.
Cresswell KS, Clarke CJ, Jackson JT, Darcy PK, Trapani JA, Johnstone RW (2005). "Biochemical and growth regulatory activities of the HIN-200 family member and putative tumor suppressor protein, AIM2". Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 326 (2): 417–24. doi:10.1016/j.bbrc.2004.11.048. PMID15582594.
Liu G, Yu JS, Zeng G, Yin D, Xie D, Black KL, Ying H (2004). "AIM-2: a novel tumor antigen is expressed and presented by human glioma cells". J. Immunother. 27 (3): 220–6. doi:10.1097/00002371-200405000-00006. PMID15076139.
Choubey D, Walter S, Geng Y, Xin H (2000). "Cytoplasmic localization of the interferon-inducible protein that is encoded by the AIM2 (absent in melanoma) gene from the 200-gene family". FEBS Lett. 474 (1): 38–42. doi:10.1016/S0014-5793(00)01571-4. PMID10828447.
