Fig. 1: STING is elevated in macular retina of dry AMD patients and cGAS-STING signaling is activated during mouse retina degeneration.

A Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) profiles showing significant enrichment of gene sets associated with indicated pathway in dry AMD retinas (n = 41) compared to normal retinas (n = 55) (GSE29801) [24]. The false discovery rate (FDR) < 0.25 for pathways mentioned. B RNA-seq analysis of STING expression in extra-macular and macular retinas of normal (n = 26) and dry AMD patients (n = 20) [24]. Comparisons were made between retinas from normal and dry AMD patients (unpaired t-test), and the extra-macular and macular retinas of the same eye (paired t-test). C–J Mice were intraperitoneal (IP) injected with PBS or sodium iodate (SI) (35 mg/kg) and analysis was conducted 3-day post injection otherwise indicated. C Fundus photography (a, b) and fluorescein angiography (c, d) showing eye morphology. RPE flat mounts stained with phallodin-FITC to label the F-actin (e, f) and with IBA1 antibody to label the mononuclear phagocytes (MP) (g, h). Scale bar: 20 μM. (n = 3). (i, j) Immunohistochemistry (IHC) showing IBA1-positive MP in retina sections. Scale bar: 50 μM (n = 2). D Upper panels: Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) analysis showing cell death. Arrow head: TUNEL-positive RPE cells. Lower panels: Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. (n = 3) H: hour, D: day. Scale bar: 50 μM. Western blot (WB) analysis showing retina proteins at the indicated time (E) or 3-day (F, G) post injection. Right panels: quantification results of WB. M month. H qRT-PCR analysis of retina RNA 3-day post injection. I WB showing retina proteins. Right panels: quantification results of WB. J IHC analysis using rhodopsin antibody shows retina structure 1-day post SI injection. Arrows indicated destruction of photoreceptors. (n = 3). Scale bar:100 μM.