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The TRAIL to viral pathogenesis: the good, the bad and the ugly

Nathan Cummins1, Andrew Badley

  • 1Division of Infectious Diseases, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.

Current Molecular Medicine
|June 13, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Tumor Necrosis Factor-Related Apoptosis Inducing Ligand (TRAIL) plays a dual role in viral infections, aiding immune defense and potentially contributing to pathogenesis. Understanding TRAIL

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Virology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-Related Apoptosis Inducing Ligand (TRAIL) is a protein discovered in 1995 involved in apoptosis signaling.
  • TRAIL's expression on T cells and its apoptotic function suggest a role in antiviral immunity.
  • The precise in vivo physiological roles of TRAIL are still under investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the multifaceted roles of TRAIL in the immune system, particularly in the context of viral infections.
  • To elucidate the dual function of TRAIL as both an antiviral and potentially proviral factor.
  • To understand how viruses manipulate TRAIL signaling for their own replication.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on TRAIL's function, receptors, and signaling pathways.
  • Analysis of studies investigating TRAIL's involvement in immune responses to viral infections.
  • Examination of viral strategies to subvert TRAIL-mediated apoptosis.

Main Results:

  • TRAIL exhibits a dual role: it can eliminate virally infected cells but also contribute to viral pathogenesis.
  • Viruses have evolved mechanisms to exploit or evade TRAIL signaling to enhance replication.
  • The net effect of TRAIL (proviral or antiviral) depends on the specific virus and host cytokine environment.

Conclusions:

  • TRAIL's function in viral infections is context-dependent, influenced by viral and host factors.
  • Understanding these determinants is crucial for developing novel antiviral therapies targeting the TRAIL system.
  • TRAIL represents a potential therapeutic target for managing viral infections.

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