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Sensing the danger in RNA

Nature Medicine volume 11, pages 250–251 (2005)Cite this article

Using siRNA-mediated intereference in a therapeutic setting will require a close examination of a disturbing side effect: under some circumstances, the technique induces an immune response. Signaling through a toll-like receptor is now implicated in this response in plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pages 263–270).

The field of RNA interference (RNAi), although in its infancy, shows promise in the world of therapeutics. In RNAi, short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) are introduced into the cell cytoplasm, causing specific degradation of the target RNA in a sequence-dependent manner1. Because RNAi can be used to reduce expression of virtually any RNA, the technique has enabled great advances in studies of cellular and pathogenic processes. But concern has been raised about the potential for siRNAs to activate immune responses; such perils need to be understood before RNAi can be used in the clinical setting2.

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Figure 1: A feeling for the nucleotides.

Ann Thomson

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  1. Division of Molecular Biology, Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope, Duarte, 91010, Califonia, USA

    Marjorie A Robbins & John J Rossi

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  1. Marjorie A Robbins
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  2. John J Rossi
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Robbins, M., Rossi, J. Sensing the danger in RNA. Nat Med 11, 250–251 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/nm0305-250

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