April 27, 2014

Bass Lab Investigates Self dsRNA as a Mediator of Disease

In mammals including humans viral doublestranded RNA dsRNA triggers an immune response by binding to host dsRNAbinding proteins. Increasingly these proteins are also connected with inflammatory diseases where a viral infection is not evident. Our research explores the hypothesis that dsRNA produced by an animal's own cells is involved. If correct this knowledge would redirect research in ways that would accelerate progress in understanding disease and aging. It will also promote the search for diagnostic reagents to detect this dsRNA and therapeutic agents to inhibit binding to diseaserelated proteins.