The ATPase retinoid acid-inducible gene (RIG)-I senses viral RNA in the cytoplasm of infected cells and subsequently activates cellular antiviral defense mechanisms. RIG-I recognizes molecular structures that discriminate viral from host RNA. Here, we show that RIG-I ligands require base-paired structures in conjunction with a free 5-triphosphate to trigger antiviral signaling. Hitherto unavailable chemically synthesized 5-triphosphate RNA ligands do not trigger RIG-I-dependent IFN production in cells, and they are unable to trigger the ATPase activity of RIG-I without a base-paired stretch. Consistently, immunostimulatory RNA from cells infected with a virus recognized by RIG-I is sensitive to double-strand, but not single-strand, specific RNases. In vitro, base-paired stretches and the 5-triphosphate bind to distinct sites of RIG-I and synergize to trigger the induction of signaling competent RIG-I multimers. Strengthening our model of a bipartite molecular pattern for RIG-I activation, we show that the activity of supposedly ''single-stranded'' 5-triphosphate RNAs generated by in vitro transcription depends on extended and base-paired by-products inadvertently, but commonly, produced by this method. Together, our findings accurately define a minimal molecular pattern sufficient to activate RIG-I that can be found in viral genomes or transcripts.immunostimulatory RNA ͉ melanoma differentiation-associated protein 5 ͉ retinoid acid-inducible gene-I-like helicases ͉ virus infection ͉ interferon production

Detection of viral nucleic acids is central to antiviral immunity. Recently, DAI/ZBP1 (DNA-dependent activator of IRFs/Z-DNA binding protein 1) was identified as a cytoplasmic DNA sensor and shown to activate the interferon regulatory factor (IRF) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-jB) transcription factors, leading to type-I interferon production. DAI-induced IRF activation depends on TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1), whereas signalling pathways and molecular components involved in NF-jB activation remain elusive. Here, we report the identification of two receptorinteracting protein (RIP) homotypic interaction motifs (RHIMs) in the DAI protein sequence, and show that these domains relay DAI-induced NF-jB signals through the recruitment of the RHIMcontaining kinases RIP1 and RIP3. We show that knockdown of not only RIP1, but also RIP3 affects DAI-induced NF-jB activation. Importantly, RIP recruitment to DAI is inhibited by the RHIM-containing murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) protein M45. These findings delineate the DAI signalling pathway to NF-jB and suggest a possible new immune modulation strategy of the MCMV.

Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) is a pore-forming toxin secreted by Staphylococcus aureus that has recently been associated with necrotizing pneumonia. In the present study, we report that in vitro, PVL induces polymorphonuclear cell death by necrosis or by apoptosis, depending on the PVL concentration. PVL-induced apoptosis was associated with a rapid disruption of mitochondrial homeostasis and activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3, suggesting that PVL-induced apoptosis is preferentially mediated by the mitochondrial pathway. Polymorphonuclear cell exposure to PVL leads to mitochondrial localization of the toxin, whereas Bax, 1 of the 2 essential proapoptotic members of the Bcl-2 family, was still localized in the cytosol. Addition of PVL to isolated mitochondria induced the release of the apoptogenic proteins cytochrome c and Smac/ DIABLO. Therefore, we suggest that PVL, which belongs to the pore-forming toxin family, could act at the mitochondrion level by creating pores in the mitochondrial outer membrane. Furthermore, LukS-PV, 1 of the 2 components of PVL, was detected in lung sections of patients with necrotizing pneumonia together with DNA fragmentation, suggesting that PVL induces apoptosis in vivo and thereby is directly involved in the pathophysiology of necrotizing pneumonia.

Out of 690 allogeneic matched sibling donor transplants for multiple myeloma reported to the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) registry, 334 were performed during the period 1983–93 (all with bone marrow) and 356 during 1994–98 [223 with bone marrow and 133 with peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs)]. The median overall survival was 10 months for patients transplanted during the earlier time period and 50 months for patients transplanted with bone marrow during the later period. The use of PBSCs was associated with earlier engraftment but no significant survival benefit compared to bone marrow transplants during the same time period. The improvement in survival since 1994 was the result of a significant reduction in transplant‐related mortality, which was 38%, 21% and 25% at 6 months and 46%, 30% and 37% at 2 years during the earlier period, and the later period with bone marrow and PBSCs respectively. Reasons for the reduced transplant‐related mortality appeared to be fewer deaths owing to bacterial and fungal infections and interstitial pneumonitis, in turn a result of earlier transplantation and less prior chemotherapy. Better supportive treatment and more frequent use of cytokines may also play a role. The improvement in survival was not directly related to the increased use of PBSCs.

Upon detection of viral RNA, the helicases RIG-I and/or MDA5 trigger, via their adaptor Cardif (also known as IPS-1, MAVS, or VISA), the activation of the transcription factors NF-kappaB and IRF3, which collaborate to induce an antiviral type I interferon (IFN) response. FADD and RIP1, known as mediators of death-receptor signaling, are implicated in this antiviral pathway; however, the link between death-receptor and antiviral signaling is not known. Here we showed that TRADD, a crucial adaptor of tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFRI), was important in RIG-like helicase (RLH)-mediated signal transduction. TRADD is recruited to Cardif and orchestrated complex formation with the E3 ubiquitin ligase TRAF3 and TANK and with FADD and RIP1, leading to the activation of IRF3 and NF-kappaB. Loss of TRADD prevented Cardif-dependent activation of IFN-beta, reduced the production of IFN-beta in response to RNA viruses, and enhanced vesicular stomatitis virus replication. Thus, TRADD is not only an essential component of proinflammatory TNFRI signaling, but is also required for RLH-Cardif-dependent antiviral immune responses.