Fig. 3
From: Is there a causal link between PTEN deficient tumors and immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment?
The potential mechanism of PTEN in type I interferon mediated immunogenicity. Cytosolic DNA sensing can be activated by intra or extra tumor mechanisms. In the tumor cells, cytosolic genomic or mitochondrial DNA binds to cGAS to trigger the production of cGAMP. cGAMP activates STING and then transcription factors IRF3 and NF-KB. PTEN dephosphorylates IRF3 and activates its import to the nucleus and starts the transcription of type I IFN and interferon stimulated genes (ISGs). In the macrophages and DCs, phagocytosed tumors genomic or mitochondrial DNA also activates cGAS/STING pathway