Date of Award

Summer 2012

Degree Type

Masters Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Biological Sciences

Abstract

Whether 5'-triphosphate-single-stranded-RNA (5 '-ppp-ssRNA) is immunostimulatory was controversial in the literature. In order to clarify the immunostimulatory effect of 5'-ppp-ssRNA, we synthesized ssRNAs and tested the IFNp (interferon-beta) level and cellular toxicity of ssRNAs in SKOV3 cells. In this work, we confirmed that 5'-ppp-ssRNA (~ 60nt) was immunostimulatory and toxic in SKOV3 cells. 5'-ppp-ssRNA (~ 60nt) led to IFN-P induction and apoptosis in SKOV3 cells. Longer 5' ppp- ssRNA tended to have a higher immunostimulatory effect and cellular toxicity than shorter 5'-ppp-ssRNA. 5'-ppp-ssRNA was more immunostimulatory and toxic than 5'- 0H-ssRNA. If the incubation time of ssRNAs increased, the toxicity of ssRNAs would increase. Higher concentrations of ssRNA tended to be more toxic than lower concentrations of ssRNA. RIG-I (retinoic acid-inducible gene 1) plays a role in the recognition of 5' -ppp-ssRNA. This work provides a guideline for the design of immunostimulatory RN As which can be applied in cancer therapy.

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