TDP-43 Puts the STING in ALS

In a recent study, Yu et al. demonstrated that TAR DNA-binding protein of 43 kDa (TDP-43) causes inflammation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) by triggering mitochondrial (mt)DNA release into the cytoplasm, which subsequently activates the cytoplasmic DNA-sensing cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS)/stimulator of interferon genes (STING) pathway. These results suggest that inhibition of cGAS/STING could help mitigate inflammation-related neuropathology in ALS.