Synthetic RIG-I-agonist RNA induces death of hepatocellular carcinoma cells

New Rochelle, NY, February 19, 2025—A new study in the peer-reviewed Journal of Interferon & Cytokine Research (JICR) showed that a specific retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I) agonist RNA (RAR) induces innate immune signaling and death of hepatocellular carcinoma cells in vitro. Click here to read the article now.

Michael Gale, Jr., from the University of Washington School of Medicine, and coauthors, evaluated the actions of a specific RIG-I agonist RNA against two distinct human hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines. RAR is a synthetic-modified RNA motif derived from the hepatitis C virus genome that is specifically recognized by RIG-I and induces innate immune activation, including production of interferon (IFN)-b,when delivered to cells. The investigators showed that RAR-induced cell death is potentiated by addition of recombinant IFN-b.

Based on the current study and previously published work, the investigators propose a model for RAR-induced cell death. “We conclude that RAR treatment could contribute to strategies for the control of liver cancer and other cancer types.”

“The findings described in this report suggest a potential new mechanism for treating patients with hepatocellular carcinoma,” says Journal of Interferon & Cytokine Research Executive Editor, Raymond Donnelly, PhD.

About the Journal
Journal of Interferon & Cytokine Research (JICR) is an authoritative peer-reviewed journal published monthly online with open access options and in print that covers all aspects of interferons and cytokines from basic science to clinical applications. Journal of Interferon & Cytokine Research is an official journal of the International Cytokine & Interferon Society. Complete tables of content and a sample issue may be viewed on the JICR website.

About the Publisher
Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. is a global media company dedicated to creating, curating, and delivering impactful peer-reviewed research and authoritative content services to advance the fields of biotechnology and the life sciences, specialized clinical medicine, and public health and policy. For complete information, please visit the Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. website.