How Low Cholesterol Is Good for Anti-viral Immunity

York et al. identify a role for decreased cholesterol biosynthesis in virally infected cells as a critical event in the induction of the anti-viral response. The mechanism involves enhanced signaling by STING in the ER membrane in response to the second messenger cGAMP, promoting increased transcription of type I interferons. The authors suggest that a “lipid code” is being sensed by STING to allow it to signal.