Apoptosis Induction By Cytosolic RNA Helicases

Abstract

Host protection against viruses depends on mounting an effective innate and adaptive immune response. Aside from the production of type I interferon and inflammation activation, a third line of defense against viral infections is the induction of programmed cell death (apoptosis) in infected cells. Recent work has uncovered essential roles for the cytoslic RNA helicases RIG-I and MDA-5 in the induction of apoptosis in diverse cell types. Here we discuss the mechanisms of RLR-induced programmed cell death as a mechanism of antiviral defense.