Fig 1: ssRNA/TLR7 stimulation induces robust inflammatory cytokine/chemokine responses whereas dsRNA mimics are potent inducers of antiviral IFN and ISG responses.

Murine BMDMs were stimulated with viral RNA mimics; R848 (ssRNA mimic) and poly I:C (dsRNA mimic) each with 10 ug/ml. mRNA (A) and protein levels (B) of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines and mRNA (C) and protein levels (D) of interferons and ISGs were assessed 8 & 24 hours after stimulation respectively. WT and TRIF−/− BMDMs (E) and WT and MyD88−/− BMDMs (F) were stimulated with viral RNA mimics; poly I:C (dsRNA mimic) and R848 (ssRNA mimic) each with 10 ug/ml respectively. mRNA levels of interferons and inflammatory cytokines were assessed 8 hours post-stimulation. Data are representative of 3 independent experiments. Statistical significance was determined using Student’s t-test with *P < .05, **P < .01, **P < .001 and ****P < .0001.