Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41883156›Full record

ArticleProtein & cell2026

DNA-triggered AIM2 condensation orchestrates immune activation and regulation.

Quanjin Li, Xiaohan Geng, Huiwen Yan, Zhaolong Li, Miao Shi, Ziqi Zhu, Tongxin Niu, Chunqiu Zhao, Kaile Shu, Yina Gao and 6 more

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Protein & cell, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

16 authors.

Quanjin LiSchool of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China.
Xiaohan GengNational Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
Huiwen YanState Key Laboratory of Epigenetic Regulation and Intervention, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
Zhaolong LiNational Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
Miao ShiNational Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
Ziqi ZhuNational Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
Tongxin NiuCenter for Biological Imaging, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
Chunqiu ZhaoNational Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
Kaile ShuUniversity of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
Yina GaoNational Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
Han FengNational Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
Songqing LiuNational Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
Qiuyao JiangMedical Science and Technology Innovation Center, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan 250000, China.
Pengcheng BuUniversity of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
Dong LiNational Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
Pu GaoNational Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.

Funding

Basic Research Program Based on Major Scientific Infrastructures-CAS JZHKYPT-2021-05Beijing Natural Science Foundation Z220018CAS Project for Young Scientists in Basic Research YSBR-074National Key R&D Program of China 2024YFA1307400National Natural Science Foundation of China 32130057National Natural Science Foundation of China 32325028National Natural Science Foundation of China 32571417National Science and Technology Major Project of China 2025ZD01904303Strategic Priority Research Program XDB1310000
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The innate immune sensor AIM2 detects cytosolic DNA and initiates inflammatory responses, yet its activation mechanism remains incompletely understood. Here, we show that AIM2 undergoes liquid-liquid phase separation upon DNA binding, forming dynamic condensates both in vitro and in cells. These condensates serve as platforms for inflammasome and PANoptosome assembly, promoting immune activation across multiple pathways. Direct structural determination from condensates reveals the assembly of active-form ASC filaments. Mechanistically, liquid-phase condensation is governed by multivalent interactions involving different AIM2 domains, including previously uncharacterized regions and species-specific elements. In vitro and in vivo assays show that mutants specifically disrupting condensation impair immune complex assembly, cell death initiation, antimicrobial defense, and intestinal homeostasis. Moreover, AIM2-DNA condensates function as regulatory hubs targeted by host- and pathogen-derived factors to balance immune homeostasis or facilitate immune evasion. These findings establish liquid-phase condensation as a fundamental mechanism of AIM2 activation and a potential therapeutic target.

Indexed as

DNADNA-Binding ProteinsImmunity, InnateInflammasomesAnimalsHumansInnate Immunity RecognitionMicePhase SeparationAIM2 protein, humanAim2 protein, mouseDNADNA-Binding ProteinsInflammasomesAIM2inflammasomeinnate immunePANoptosomephase separation

Identifiers

PMID41883156
PMCPMC13521274

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.