Host inflammatory pathway mRNAs

Host inflammatory pathway mRNAs refer to the collection of messenger RNA molecules that encode proteins involved in the initiation, propagation, and regulation of the inflammatory response. This group includes transcripts for cytokines (e.g., TNF, IL-6, IL-1), chemokines, and enzymes such as COX-2. These mRNAs are tightly regulated at both the transcriptional level, via factors like NF-κB, and the post-transcriptional level, via RNA-binding proteins and microRNAs. In clinical practice, these mRNAs are often used as biomarkers to assess the severity of the host response to infection or injury. Therapeutic strategies aimed at these mRNAs include the use of glucocorticoids to suppress their production and emerging RNA-targeted therapies like antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) designed to degrade specific pro-inflammatory transcripts. Dysregulation of this mRNA pool is a central feature of chronic inflammatory diseases, autoimmune disorders, and life-threatening conditions such as sepsis and cytokine release syndrome.

Other names

Inflammatory transcriptomePro-inflammatory mRNAsCytokine mRNAsHost inflammatory gene transcriptsHost inflammatory response genes

Transcriptional repression via glucocorticoid receptor activation; Targeted degradation via antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) or small interfering RNAs (siRNAs); Modulation of mRNA stability by RNA-binding protein inhibitors.