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Interferons command Trim22 to fight against viruses

Cellular & Molecular Immunology volume 14, pages 794–796 (2017)Cite this article

The mammalian innate immune system provides the first line of defensive mechanisms to protect the host against invading pathogens. These defensive responses are initiated by recognition of microbial pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), which are engaged by conserved germline-encoded pattern recognition receptors (PRRs).1 Viral infection is always a considerable threat for public health. During viral infection, viral nucleic acids serve as the dominant PAMPs for the host innate immune system, which can be recognized by diverse PRR families, including Toll-like receptors (TLRs), RIG-I-like receptors and cytosolic DNA receptors. Viral nucleic acid sensing markedly triggers downstream type I interferon secretion, which thereby activates interferon-stimulated genes to exert anti-viral effects.2

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a dangerous human pathogen that infects over 170 million individuals worldwide. HCV infection easily develops into a persistent infection, leading to liver cirrhosis or even hepatocellular carcinoma.3 HCV is an enveloped, positive-sense single-stranded RNA virus. The genome of HCV encodes structural proteins (core, E1 and E2) and nonstructural proteins (p7, nonstructural (NS) 2, NS3, NS4A, NS4B, NS5A and NS5B). During HCV infection, viral dsRNA replicative intermediates can be recognized by RIG-I and MDA5 to induce a type I IFN response, which is crucial for the host to counteract HCV infection.4, 5

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China

    Qiaoshi Lian & Bing Sun

  2. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China

    Qiaoshi Lian

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  1. Qiaoshi Lian
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  2. Bing Sun
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Correspondence to Bing Sun.

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Lian, Q., Sun, B. Interferons command Trim22 to fight against viruses. Cell Mol Immunol 14, 794–796 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/cmi.2017.76

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