RNase-L Deficiency Exacerbates Experimental Colitis and Colitis-associated Cancer

The endoribonuclease RNase-L is a type-I interferon (IFN)-regulated component of the innate immune response that functions in antiviral, antibacterial, and antiproliferative activities. RNase-L produces RNA agonists of RIG-I-like receptors, sensors of cytosolic pathogen-associated RNAs that induce cytokines including IFN-β. IFN-β and RIG-I-like receptors signaling mediate protective responses against experimental colitis and colitis-associated cancer and contribute to gastrointestinal homeostasis. Therefore, we investigated a role for RNase-L in murine colitis and colitis-associated cancer and its association with RIG-I-like receptors signaling in response to bacterial RNA.