RNA interference: a potent technology in studying and modulating of dendritic cells, and potential in clinical therapy

RNA interference (RNAi) is a natural process by which small interfering RNA duplex directs sequencespecific post-transcriptional silencing of homologous genes by binding to its complementary mRNA and triggering its elimination. The history of RNAi has only about two decades, however, further studies have revealed that it is a potent method of gene silencing that has developed rapidly over the past few years as a result of its extensive importance in the study of genetics, molecular biology and physiology. RNAi technology has also recently yielded significant insight into dendritic cells (DCs) by helping to elucidate numerous mechanisms that regulate the development, activation and function of cells that mediate immunity. In addition, because of its ability to suppress gene expression effectively, this technique may be used to regulate the immune response for clinical purposes. As the key antigen presenting cells, DCs play a crucial part in the start of an immune response and in the enhancement and regulation of cell mediated immune reactions. The current studies indicated that targeting DCs with RNAi is a novel and effective therapeutic method for the fundamental research, and displayed great potential in clinical treatment.