Editorial
Copyright ©2007 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Oct 21, 2007; 13(39): 5169-5179
Published online Oct 21, 2007. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v13.i39.5169
RNA interference and antiviral therapy
Yan Ma, Chu-Yan Chan, Ming-Liang He
Yan Ma, Chu-Yan Chan, Ming-Liang He, Stanley Ho Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases, and Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by RFCID, No 01030152, RGC, CUHK4428/06M, ITF ITS091/03 of Hong Kong Government, and Faculty Direct Fund of the Chinese University of Hong Kong
Correspondence to: Professor Ming-Liang He, Stanley Ho Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases, and Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong, China. mlhe@cuhk.edu.hk
Telephone: +852-22528812 Fax: + 852-26354977
Received: May 19, 2007
Revised: July 23, 2007
Accepted: August 11, 2007
Published online: October 21, 2007
Abstract

RNA interference (RNAi) is an evolutionally conserved gene silencing mechanism present in a variety of eukaryotic species. RNAi uses short double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) to trigger degradation or translation repression of homologous RNA targets in a sequence-specific manner. This system can be induced effectively in vitro and in vivo by direct application of small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), or by expression of short hairpin RNA (shRNA) with non-viral and viral vectors. To date, RNAi has been extensively used as a novel and effective tool for functional genomic studies, and has displayed great potential in treating human diseases, including human genetic and acquired disorders such as cancer and viral infections. In the present review, we focus on the recent development in the use of RNAi in the prevention and treatment of viral infections. The mechanisms, strategies, hurdles and prospects of employing RNAi in the pharmaceutical industry are also discussed.

Keywords: RNA interference; Short hairpin RNA; Micro RNA; Antiviral therapy; Viral infection; Human immunodeficiency virus; Hepatitis C virus; Hepatitis B virus; SARS-coronavirus