TLR3 receptor recognizes double stranded RNA. It is activated only through binding of dsRNA longer than 21 base pairs. We have discovered the existence of additional RNA binding site at N-terminus. We showed that siRNA comprising 21 bp represents minimal size of RNA duplex that can bind to both binding sites of TLR3 ectodomain and causes nonspecific, sequence independent immune response by interferon production. We showed that the secondary structure of nucleic acids affects TLR3 activation, which is important for the design of good therapeutic interfering RNA.
COBISS.SI-ID: 3954714
Microvesicles are found in peripheral blood. Recently a hypothesis was made that certain proteins in plasma could supress microvesiculation by mediating adhesion of buds to mother cell. We studied correlation between number of MVs and ability of plasma to induce adhesion of artificial vesicles. We showed that greater ability of plasma to induce adhesion of vesicles relates to smaller concentration of MVs in plasma. The results are important as they imply that plasma, which mediates stronger attractive interaction between GPVs might potentially be associated with a smaller risk of thrombosis.
COBISS.SI-ID: 23693785