COVID-19 research

Gene: AIM2

Green List (high evidence)

Evidence summary from Illumina curation team: AIM2 performs an established role within the innate immune system as a pattern recognition receptor which senses microbial dsDNA. In vitro experiments have shown that AIM2 recognises cytosolic dsDNA from a number of viruses and consequently drives pyroptosis through formation of an inflammasome complex (Sharma et al. 2019). Aim2-deficient mice show an attenuated immune response upon infection with mCNV when compared to wildtype mice (Rathinam et al. 2010). PMID: 31372985 Sharma et al. 2019 (Review) AIM2 encodes a pattern recognition receptor which senses microbial dsDNA. In vitro experiments show AIM2 recognises cytosolic dsDNA from a number of viruses and consequently drives pyroptosis through formation of an inflammasome complex. AIM2 expression is upregulated in response to infection by RNA viruses and contributes to secretion of IL-1beta, the mechanism for the recognition of RNA viruses is unclear. Table 1 summarises the list of in vitro AIM2 virus studies. PMID: 20351692: Rathinam et al. 2010 In vivo, Aim2-deficient mice, Aim2- infected with mCMV have reduced IL-18 concentrations in the serum compared to wildtype mice, and severely attenuated IFN-? production by NK cells, events, which are critical for the early control of viral replication (Figure 7b, d, e) The spleen of infected Aim2-/- mice demonstrated elevated viral titre compared to the wildtype (Fig 7h, i). PMID: 26590313 Schattgen et al. 2018 Aim2 knockout mice, infected with influenza A virus (RNA virus) showed an exaggerated response to immune response. Authors suggest that host DNA released from damaged cells during IAV infection and sensed by AIM2 leads to limitation of immune mediated damage to infected tissues.

Created: 28 May 2020, 3:12 p.m. | Last Modified: 28 May 2020, 3:12 p.m.

Panel Version: 0.347

Publications

• 31372985
• 20351692
• 26590313

Identified through an OMIM search for potential viral susceptibility genes, and subsequently triaged/reviewed by Illumina curation team.

Created: 28 May 2020, 12:36 p.m. | Last Modified: 28 May 2020, 12:36 p.m.

Panel Version: 0.336