Double-stranded RNA-activated protein kinase regulates early innate immune responses during respiratory syncytial virus infection.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most common cause of childhood viral bronchiolitis and lung injury. Inflammatory responses significantly contribute to lung pathologies during RSV infections and bronchiolitis but the exact mechanisms have not been completely defined. The double-stranded RNA-activated protein kinase (PKR) functions to inhibit viral replication and participates in several signaling pathways associated with innate inflammatory immune responses.

Scavenger receptor class-A is a novel cell surface receptor for double-stranded RNA.

Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) is a potent signal to the host immune system for the presence of an ongoing viral infection. The presence of dsRNA, intracellularly or extracellularly, leads to the induction of innate inflammatory cytokines in many cell types including epithelial cells. However, the cell surface receptor for recognition of extracellular dsRNA is not yet determined.