Discrimination of cytosolic self and non-self RNA by RIG-I-like receptors

• Published in: The Journal of biological chemistry Vol. 292; no. 22; pp. 9000 - 9009
• Main Authors: Lässig, Charlotte, Hopfner, Karl-Peter
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 02.06.2017; American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
• Subjects: Animals; ATP hydrolysis; ATPase; autoimmune disease; Autoimmune Diseases - immunology; DEAD Box Protein 58 - immunology; Humans; Immunity, Innate; innate immune system; Minireviews; RIG-I-like receptor (RLR); RNA; RNA - immunology; signaling; virus sensing; signaling; RNA; ATP hydrolysis; ATPase; autoimmune disease; RIG-I-like receptor (RLR); innate immune system; virus sensing
• ISSN: 0021-9258; 1083-351X
• DOI: 10.1074/jbc.R117.788398

RIG-I-like receptors (RLRs) are cytosolic innate immune sensors that detect pathogenic RNA and induce a systemic antiviral response. During the last decade, many studies focused on their molecular characterization and the identification of RNA agonists. Therefore, it became more and more clear that RLR activation needs to be carefully regulated, because constitutive signaling or detection of endogenous RNA through loss of specificity is detrimental. Here, we review the current understanding of RLR activation and selectivity. We specifically focus upon recent findings on the function of the helicase domain in discriminating between different RNAs, and whose malfunctioning causes serious autoimmune diseases.