Intracellular dna receptor

Abstract

Provided herein are methods of identifying and using compounds that modulate an AIM2 polypeptide-mediated immune response. Further provided herein are methods of treating disease comprising administering to a patient a compound that decreases expression of an AIM2 polypeptide. Further provided herein are methods of providing gene therapy to a patient comprising administering to the patient a gene therapy agent and a compound that decreases expression of an AIM2 polypeptide. In certain embodiments, a compound that decreases expression of an AIM2 polypeptide comprises an siRNA or an shRNA.

1 . A method of treating an autoimmune disease in a patient, comprising administering to the patient a compound that decreases expression of an AIM2 polypeptide. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the compound comprises an siRNA or an shRNA. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein expression of the AIM2 polypeptide is decreased by at least 50%. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the disease is selected from the group consisting of: rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosis, scleroderma, dermatomyositis, and psoriasis. 
     
     
         5 . A method of treating an infection comprising administering to a patient a compound that decreases expression of an AIM2 polypeptide. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the compound comprises an siRNA or an shRNA. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein expression of the AIM2 polypeptide is decreased by 50%. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the infection is caused by a bacterial pathogen. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the bacterial pathogen is selected from the group consisting of  Shigella  spp.,  Francisella  spp.  Chlamyida  spp.  Listeria monocytogenes, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Mycobacterium leprae, Mycobacterium avium intracellulare, Brucella  spp.,  Salmonella  spp.,  Legionella,  and  Rickettsia.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the infection is caused by a viral pathogen. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the viral pathogen is a member of a viral family selected from the group consisting of: Adenoviridae, Picornaviridae, Herpesviridae, Hepadnaviridae, Flaviviridae, Retroviridae, Orthomyxoviridae, Paramyxoviridae, Papovaviridae, Rhabdoviridae and Togaviridae. 
     
     
         12 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A method of introducing a double-stranded DNA molecule into a cell comprising:
 administering to the cell a compound that decreases expression of an AIM2 polypeptide;   contacting the cell with the double-stranded DNA molecule under transfection conditions such that the cell is transfected with the double-stranded DNA molecule.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the compound comprises an siRNA or an shRNA. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein expression of the AIM2 polypeptide is decreased by at least 50%. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the double-stranded DNA molecule comprises a portion encoding a polypeptide. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the cell is a mammalian cell. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the cell is a dendritic cell. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the cell is a monocyte.