Centre for Cancer Research

RNA interference & innate immunity

The occurrence and progression of many diseases, including cancer, are profoundly affected by our primary innate immunity. Scientists in the Centre for Cancer Research have shown that short interfering RNA (siRNA) can activate innate immunity. This is due to the nature of the 3’ ends of the siRNA and their interaction with a signalling RNA helicase, RIG-I. siRNA can also activate toll-like receptors.

RNA interference (RNAi) holds great promise for research into functional genomics and therapies for a range of diseases. Centre for Cancer Research scientists are studying the components of the innate immune response activated by RNAi, with the aim of improving the specificity of this tool and facilitating its use as a potential therapeutic agent.