Polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (poly I:C) is a synthetic double-stranded RNA that activates toll-like receptor 3 and retinoic acid inducible gene 1 (RIG-1)-like receptors, including RIG-1 and melanoma differentiation associated gene 5 [1].
In vitro: In the TLR3-transfected cells, Poly I:C stimulated the production of IL-8 in a dose-dependent manner [2]. Poly I:C liposome could directly suppress the growth of B16F10 melanoma in vitro and repeated peritumoral injections of Poly I:C liposome inhibited melanoma growth in a dose-dependent manner[3].
In vivo: Two days after implantation of a reticulum cell sarcoma, a lymphatic lymphoma, two leukemias, a fibrosarcoma, and a human adenovirus 12-induced tumor, treatment with polyinosinic polycytidylic-acid resulted in decreased growth rates of the tumors and increased survival times of the animals. In the reticulum cell sarcoma and the adenovirus 12-induced tumor, treatment with polyinosinic polycytidylic-acid caused a regression of the tumor after the tumor was grown to moderate size [4]. 3 h after an intraperitoneal injection of poly I:C (750 μg/kg), maximal fever of 1.6°C above baseline was observed. IL-1β and cyclooxygenase-2 mRNA were significantly upregulated in the hypothalamus of poly I:C-treated animals. Poly I:C decreased food intake by 30% [5]. Poly I:C inhibited chemically induced tumorigenesis in mouse skin [6].
References:
[1] Cheng Y, Xu F. Anticancer function of polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid[J]. Cancer biology & therapy, 2010, 10(12): 1219-1223.
[2] Lseke S, Grage‐Griebenow E, Heine H, et al. In vitro‐Generated Viral Double‐Stranded RNA in Contrast to Polyinosinic: Polycytidylic Acid Induces Interferon‐α in Human Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells[J]. Scandinavian journal of immunology, 2006, 63(4): 264-274.
[3] Fujimura T, Nakagawa S, Ohtani T, et al. Inhibitory effect of the polyinosinic‐polycytidylic acid/cationic liposome on the progression of murine B16F10 melanoma[J]. European journal of immunology, 2006, 36(12): 3371-3380.
[4]. Levy H B, Law L W, Rabson A S. Inhibition of tumor growth by polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid[J]. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 1969, 62(2): 357-361.
[5]. Fortier M E, Kent S, Ashdown H, et al. The viral mimic, polyinosinic: polycytidylic acid, induces fever in rats via an interleukin-1-dependent mechanism[J]. American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology, 2004, 287(4): R759-R766.
[6]. Gelboin H V, Levy H B. Polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid inhibits chemically induced tumorigenesis in mouse skin[J]. Science, 1970, 167(3915): 205-207.