Gene Knockdown in Human Rhinovirus 1B Using 2′-OMe-modified siRNAs Results in the Reactivation of the Interferon Response

The aim of this study was to investigate the knockdown efficiency of 2′-O-methylated (2′-OMe)-modified small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) on human rhinovirus 1B (HRV1B) replication and the interferon response. Thus, 24 2′-OMe-modified siRNAs were designed to target HRV1B. The RNA levels of HRV1B, Toll-like receptor 3, melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5, retinoic acid inducible gene-I, and interferons were determined in HRV1B-infected HeLa and BEAS-2B epithelial cells transfected with 2′-OMe-modified siRNAs. The results revealed that all 2′-OMe-modified siRNAs interfered with the replication of HRV1B in a cell-specific and transfection efficiency-dependent manner. Viral activation of Toll-like receptor 3, melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5, retinoic acid inducible gene-I, and the interferon response was detected. In conclusion, the 2′-OMe-modified siRNAs used in this study could interfere with HRV1B replication, possibly leading to the reactivation of the interferon response.