STING Agonist cGAMP Attenuates Sleep Deprivation-Induced Neuroinflammation and Cognitive Deficits via TREM2 Up-Regulation

Sleep deprivation (SD) has been associated with several adverse effects, including cognitive deficit. Emerging evidence suggests microglia-associated neuroinflammation is a potential trigger of cognitive deficit after SD. Stimulator of interferon genes (STING) constitutes an important factor in host immune response to pathogenic organisms and is found in multiple cells, including microglia. STING is involved in neuroinflammation during neuronal degeneration, although how STING signaling affects SD-induced neuroinflammation remains unexplored. In the present study, the chronic sleep restriction (CSR) model was applied to examine the effects of STING signaling on cognition. The results revealed that cGAMP, a high-affinity and selective STING agonist, significantly improved cognitive deficit, alleviated neural injury, and relieved neuroinflammation in CSR mice by activating the STING-TBK1-IRF3 pathway. Moreover, triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2) was upregulated in CSR mice treated with cGAMP, and this effect was abolished by STING knockout. TREM2 upregulation induced by cGAMP regulated the microglia from pro-inflammatory state to anti-inflammatory state, thereby relieving neuroinflammation in CSR mice. These findings indicate cGAMP-induced STING signaling activation alleviates SD-associated neuroinflammation and cognitive deficit by upregulating TREM2, providing a novel approach for the treatment of SD-related nerve injury.