Hippo信号通路通过一系列激酶级联反应,实现对细胞增殖、器官大小以及组织再生等方面的调控。其中,MST1/2是核心激酶Hippo蛋白在哺乳动物中的同源物,对于下游信号通路的激活至关重要。此外,MST1/2在细胞分化、形态和细胞骨架重排等方面也发挥重要作用。近期多项研究工作指出,MST1/2参与调控免疫T细胞的粘附、迁移、归巢和抑制性Treg细胞的成熟与功能,以及心肌细胞自噬等过程。有趣的是,这一功能是不依赖经典的Hippo信号通路的,被称为“非经典Hippo信号通路”。最新的研究结果揭示了MST1/2通过非经典Hippo信号通路调控先天免疫巨噬细胞对病原菌或病毒的免疫应答,包括巨噬细胞的吞噬、细胞因子(炎症因子、趋化因子、Ⅰ型干扰素等)和线粒体活性氧的产生,从而在机体抵抗细菌病毒感染、炎症相关癌症、动脉粥样硬化等疾病中发挥重要功能。本文对MST1/2调控先天免疫功能、相关分子机制和疾病进行了总结和讨论。

The Hippo signaling pathway regulates cell proliferation, organ size and tissue regeneration through a series of kinase cascades. MST1/2 is the mammalian orthologue of the core kinase Hippo, which is crucial for the activation of downstream signaling. Additionally, MST1/2 has been reported to play important roles in cell differentiation, morphology and cytoskeleton reorganization. Recent evidence suggests that MST1/2 is involved in the regulation of T cell adhesion, migration, homing and Treg cell maturation and functions. Interestingly, these processes are not dependent on the canonical, but a non-canonical Hippo signaling pathway. More recent studies have revealed that MST1/2 mediates the innate immune response against pathogens or viruses, especially on macrophage phagocytosis as well as cytokines and ROS production. MST1/2 is associated with various diseases, such as bacterial or viral infection, inflammation-related cancer, and atherosclerosis. In this review, we summarize recent findings on the functions of MST1/2 in the innate immune response and inflammation-related diseases.