Review
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2003. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Aug 15, 2003; 9(8): 1657-1661
Published online Aug 15, 2003. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v9.i8.1657
RNA interference: Antiviral weapon and beyond
Quan-Chu Wang, Qing-He Nie, Zhi-Hua Feng
Quan-Chu Wang, Qing-He Nie, Zhi-Hua Feng, The Center of Diagnosis and Treatment for Infectious Diseases of Chinese PLA, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an 710038, Shaanxi Province, China
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Qing-He Nie, The Center of Diagnosis and Treatment for Infectious Diseases of Chinese PLA, Tangdu Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an 710038, Shaanxi Province, China. nieqinghe@hotmail.com
Telephone: +86-29-3377452 Fax: +86-29-3377452
Received: April 4, 2003
Revised: April 23, 2003
Accepted: May 11, 2003
Published online: August 15, 2003
Abstract

RNA interference (RNAi) is a remarkable type of gene regulation based on sequence-specific targeting and degradation of RNA. The term encompasses related pathways found in a broad range of eukaryotic organisms, including fungi, plants, and animals. RNA interference is part of a sophisticated network of interconnected pathways for cellular defense, RNA surveillance, and development and it may become a powerful tool to manipulate gene expression experimentally. RNAi technology is currently being evaluated not only as an extremely powerful instrument for functional genomic analyses, but also as a potentially useful method to develop specific dsRNA based gene-silencing therapeutics. Several laboratories have been interested in using RNAi to control viral infection and many reports in Nature and in Cell show that short interfering (si) RNAs can inhibit infection by HIV-1, polio and hepatitis C viruses in a sequence-specific manner. RNA-based strategies for gene inhibition in mammalian cells have recently been described, which offer the promise of antiviral therapy.

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