Epithelial cGAS mediates allergen-induced innate neutrophilic airway inflammation in mice

Exposure of the airways to allergens rapidly induces oxidative DNA damage in airway epithelium. Cyclic-GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) is an immune-surveillance DNA-sensor that senses damaged DNA and induces innate inflammation. We hypothesized that sensing of allergen-induced damaged DNA by epithelial club cell cGAS stimulates an innate neutrophilic immune response. To test this hypothesis, we investigated in vivo role of epithelial cGAS expression in allergen challenge-induced innate neutrophilic airway and lung inflammation.