A02 - Role of self RNA in immune sensing and tolerance
Sensing of RNA by RIG-I like receptors (RLR) and Toll-like receptors (TLR) is crucial for pathogen detection but comes at the risk of erroneous recognition of self-RNA, possibly leading to autoimmunity. On the other hand, low-level sensing of self-RNA might keep the immune system in an alert antiviral state, posing a barrier to infection. We will investigate the role of posttranscriptional RNA modification for the regulation of innate immune responses to endogenous tRNA and mRNA by TLR7 and the RLR Melanoma Differentiation Antigen 5, characterize endogenous immunostimulatory RNA species and elucidate the physiological function of self-RNA dependent immune activation in tissue homeostasis and infection.
