5'-triphosphate RNA

5'-triphosphate RNA (5'ppp-RNA or 3pRNA) is a synthetic RNA molecule characterized by a triphosphate moiety at the 5' end, typically in a double-stranded form. It functions as a potent agonist of the retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I) receptor, a cytosolic pattern recognition receptor that detects viral RNA. Activation of the RIG-I pathway by 5'ppp-RNA triggers a robust innate immune response, characterized by the production of type I interferons and pro-inflammatory cytokines. This biologic modality is being investigated as a cancer immunotherapeutic agent, with research demonstrating its potential to induce immunogenic cell death in tumor cells and enhance CD8+ T cell and natural killer (NK) cell responses. While widely available as a research tool from vendors like InvivoGen, it is also being developed in various proprietary formulations for clinical applications in oncology and infectious diseases.

Other names

5'-triphosphorylated RNAppp-RNA