Figure 2.

Emerging roles of endogenous RNAs in inflammatory responses in obesity. Proposed molecular mechanisms for pro-inflammatory dsRNA-binding proteins such as PKR, TLR3, and TLR7, in recognizing exogenous and endogenous dsRNAs. These dsRNA-binding proteins distinguish and interact with virus-derived exogenous RNAs upon viral infection, and lead to the induction of an immune response. However, under cell stress conditions, such as saturated fatty acid exposure, these proteins are believed to sense changes in endogenous dsRNA networks through their interactions, thereby resulting in chronic inflammation that alters the metabolic state. These dsRNA-binding proteins accomplish this by phosphorylating the inhibitory serine found on insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1), a critical insulin signaling component.