|
|
Sci. STKE, 13 June 2006 PERSPECTIVESInnate Immune Defense Through RNA InterferenceJörg H. Fritz1, Stephen E. Girardin2, and Dana J. Philpott1*
1Department of Immunology, Medical Sciences Building, University of Toronto, 1 King’s College Circle, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 1A8. Abstract: RNA interference (RNAi, also known as RNA silencing) has recently emerged as a fundamental and widespread regulator of gene expression. New developments in this field implicate RNAi in the innate immune response to infection in plants and animals. Evidence from plants, tissue culture cells, and Caenorhabditis elegans–based systems previously suggested that RNAi plays a role in the defense against viral infection, but definitive evidence using viruses and whole animals has been lacking. Two recent reports now show that both Drosophila embryos and adult flies mount a substantial innate immune response to insect viruses that requires the RNAi machinery. This innate response is distinct from known bacterial and fungal defense systems provided by the Toll and immune deficiency (Imd) pathways, thus defining a previously unrecognized strategy to fight viral infection. Whether RNAi, aside from its function in counteracting viruses, is also used to fight bacterial infection remained enigmatic. New evidence, however, now shows that in Arabidopsis, the bacterial component, flagellin, induces the expression of a specific microRNA, which in turn leads to the down-regulation of the signaling pathways that are implicated in disease susceptibility. This down-regulation then increases the plant's resistance to infection. Whether RNAi mechanisms also exist for combating bacterial diseases in animals remains an intriguing question for future studies. *Corresponding author. E-mail, dana.philpott{at}utoronto.ca
Citation: J. H. Fritz, S. E. Girardin, D. J. Philpott, Innate Immune Defense Through RNA Interference. Sci. STKE 2006, pe27 (2006). THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
|
Science Signaling. ISSN 1937-9145 (online), 1945-0877 (print). Pre-2008: Science's STKE. ISSN 1525-8882
News | Science Journals | Careers | Blogs and Communities | Multimedia | Collections | Help | Site Map | RSS
Subscribe | Feedback | Privacy / Legal | About Us | Advertise With Us | Contact Us
© 2006 American Association for the Advancement of Science. All Rights Reserved.
AAAS is a partner of HINARI, AGORA, OARE, PatientInform, CrossRef, and COUNTER.
You have reached the bottom of the page. Back to top