Institution: | aLaboratory of Molecular Genetics, Institute for Virus Research, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan bLaboratory of Molecular Cell Biology, Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan |
Abstract: | Viral infection is detected by cellular sensors as foreign nucleic acid and initiates innate antiviral responses, including the activation of type I interferon (IFN) and proinflammatory cytokines. Recent advances in cytoplasmic virus sensors highlight their essential role in the induction of innate immunity. Moreover, it is intriguing to understand how they can discriminate innate RNA from viral foreign RNA. In this mini-review, we focus on these cytoplasmic virus sensors, termed retinoic acid inducible gene-I (RIG-I)-like receptors (RLRs), and discuss their function in the innate immune system. |