{
  "abstract": "Macrophages orchestrate immunity via transcriptional reprogramming, largely controlled by the master regulator NF-κB. However, mechanisms of promoter selection remain enigmatic. Here, we reveal that DNA secondary structures called G-quadruplexes (G4s) modulate the macrophage transcriptome during inflammation. By investigating the G4 ligand pyridostatin (PDS) in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophages, we establish that G4 stabilization significantly decreases the inflammatory response without affecting mitochondrial metabolism or pathogen clearance. Instead, NF-κB-dependent transcription of activation markers and proinflammatory cytokines is selectively repressed. Using chromatin accessibility profiling, NF-κB ChIP, and in silico predictions, we demonstrate that G4 stabilization sterically hinders NF-κB promoter occupancy. Furthermore, PDS stabilizes transient, transcription-induced G4s, prematurely shutting down transcription and reverting local chromatin to a dormant state. Thus, G4 formation represents a potential strategy to modulate dysregulated macrophage activation.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": "research support, non u.s. gov't",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 10,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Philipp Schult",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-0533-7046"
    },
    {
      "name": "Melanie Kastl"
    },
    {
      "name": "Jennifer Szlapa"
    },
    {
      "name": "Konstantinos Symeonidis"
    },
    {
      "name": "Salie Maasewerd"
    },
    {
      "name": "Bernardo Franklin",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-2591-9833"
    },
    {
      "name": "Alea Radcke",
      "orcid": "0009-0006-1413-0027"
    },
    {
      "name": "Stefan A. Juranek",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-9136-4461"
    },
    {
      "name": "Zeinab Abdullah"
    },
    {
      "name": "Katrin Paeschke",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-3080-6745"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/fby9y33xj5a7j.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1038/s41467-026-78610-w",
  "fulltext_url": "https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC13683368",
  "id": "fby9y33xj5a7j",
  "issns": [
    "2041-1723"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-78610-w",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "1312|DNA and Nucleic Acid Chemistry"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7223005754",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-78610-w.pdf",
  "pmcid": "PMC13683368",
  "pmid": "42901949",
  "published": "2026-10-20",
  "publisher": "Springer Science and Business Media LLC",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/fby9y33xj5a7j.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:39Z",
      "native_id": "10.1038/s41467-026-78610-w",
      "source": "crossref",
      "url": "https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-78610-w"
    },
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:19:32Z",
      "native_id": "MED:42901949",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42901949"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biochemistry",
      "origin": "openalex:1312|DNA and Nucleic Acid Chemistry",
      "subfield": "molecular-biology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "G-quadruplex structures affect the immune response to bacterial infection in mouse macrophages",
  "title_text": "G-quadruplex structures affect the immune response to bacterial infection in mouse macrophages",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:19:32Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/fby9y33xj5a7j",
  "venue": "Nature Communications",
  "versions": []
}