RIG-I and dsRNA-induced IFNbeta activation

Stéphane Hausmann1, Jean-Baptiste Marq, Caroline Tapparel

  • 1Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva Medical School, Geneva, Switzerland.

Plos One
|December 31, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Most RNA viruses trigger innate immunity via RIG-I, but picornaviruses use mda-5. SeV infection, like other RNA viruses, requires RIG-I, not mda-5, for interferon induction.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Immunology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Most RNA viruses initiate RNA synthesis with NTPs, leaving some viral RNAs unblocked.
  • Innate immune responses to RNA viruses typically involve RIG-I, except for picornaviruses which utilize mda-5.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the innate immune response triggered by Sendai virus (SeV) infection.
  • To determine the role of RIG-I and mda-5 in SeV-induced interferon production.

Main Methods:

  • Examined SeV infection in the context of interferon induction.
  • Assessed the interaction of RIG-I with dsRNA (poly-I/C) in vitro and in vivo.

Main Results:

  • SeV infection induces interferon, dependent on capped dsRNA without free 5' tri-phosphate ends.
  • This SeV-induced interferon response requires RIG-I, not mda-5.
  • RIG-I interacts with poly-I/C in vivo and in vitro, with poly-I/C uniquely stimulating RIG-I ATPase activity in variants lacking the C-terminal domain.

Conclusions:

  • Sendai virus infection elicits an innate immune response mediated by RIG-I.
  • RIG-I recognizes specific dsRNA structures, with distinct interactions observed for poly-I/C compared to other dsRNAs.

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