title: Double-stranded RNAs containing multiple IU pairs are sufficient to suppress interferon induction and apoptosis.
abstract: Adenosine deaminases acting on RNA (ADARs) catalyze hyperediting of long double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs), whereby up to 50% of adenosines are converted to inosine (I). Although hyperedited dsRNAs (IU-dsRNAs) have been implicated in various cellular functions, we now provide evidence for another role. We show that IU-dsRNA suppresses the induction of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) and apoptosis by poly(IC). Moreover, we show that IU-dsRNA inhibits the activation of interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3), which is essential for the induction of ISGs and apoptosis. Finally, we speculate that the inhibition of IRF3 results from specific binding of IU-dsRNA to MDA-5 or RIG-I, both of which are cytosolic sensors for poly(IC). Although our data are consistent with a previous study in which ADAR1 deletion resulted in increased expression of ISGs and apoptosis, we show that IU-dsRNA per se suppresses ISGs and apoptosis. We therefore propose that any IU-dsRNA generated by ADAR1 can inhibit both pathways.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: Patrice
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vitali
authors.forename: A D J
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Scadden
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D020029:Base Pairing; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D050835:Interferon Regulatory Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D007372:Interferons / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011070:Poly I-C / Q000276:immunology; D011485:Protein Binding; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D050835:Interferon Regulatory Factors; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded; D007372:Interferons; D011070:Poly I-C