Downstream antiviral signaling pathway

The downstream antiviral signaling pathway is a critical component of the innate immune system responsible for detecting and responding to viral infections. It encompasses several distinct but interconnected cascades initiated by pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), including Toll-like receptors (TLRs), RIG-I-like receptors (RLRs), and the cGAS-STING pathway, which recognize viral nucleic acids and proteins [PMID: 32139333]. Upon activation, these pathways trigger the phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of transcription factors such as IRF3, IRF7, and NF-κB, resulting in the production of Type I and Type III interferons (IFNs) [PMID: 25680280]. These interferons then bind to their respective receptors to activate the JAK-STAT signaling pathway, inducing the expression of hundreds of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) that inhibit viral replication and assembly. In clinical practice, components of this pathway are targeted by exogenous interferons to treat chronic viral hepatitis and certain cancers, while JAK inhibitors are used to suppress overactive signaling in autoimmune diseases [Source: FDA]. However, therapeutic manipulation of these pathways must be carefully managed to avoid systemic toxicity or the induction of interferonopathies [PMID: 28231546]. This pathway is not a single molecular target but a complex biological process involving numerous receptors, kinases, and transcription factors.

Other names

Innate antiviral responseInterferon signaling pathwayAntiviral innate immune responseType I interferon signaling pathwayAntiviral signaling cascade

Activation of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) leading to the induction of type I interferons and subsequent expression of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) via the JAK-STAT pathway [PMID: 32139333, PMID: 25680280].