Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42033727›Full record

ArticleCell reports2026

SFPQ prevents MDA5-mediated activation of innate immunity and preserves cell viability.

Huirong Zhang, Runjie Yuan, Praneet K Sandhu, Justin T Landis, Dirk P Dittmer, Blossom Damania

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Cell reports, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Huirong ZhangLineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
Runjie YuanLineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
Praneet K SandhuLineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
Justin T LandisLineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
Dirk P DittmerLineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
Blossom DamaniaLineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA. Electronic address: damania@med.unc.edu.

Funding

Vironomics and Biostatistics CoreP01CA019014 · NCI · UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL · PI BLOSSOM A DAMANIA, NANCY JOAN RAAB-TRAUB · 1985 to 2026
$43.8M
Targeted Therapies for HIV-Associated Kaposi Sarcoma and LymphomaR01CA163217 · NCI · UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL · PI BLOSSOM A DAMANIA, Dirk P Dittmer · 2011 to 2026
$5.5M
Therapy for Non-Hodgkin lympomaR01CA291437 · NCI · UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL · PI BLOSSOM A DAMANIA · 2024 to 2026
$2.2M
Targeting EBV-associated lymphomasU01CA294800 · NCI · UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL · PI BLOSSOM A DAMANIA · 2024 to 2026
$1.9M
NCI NIH HHS P01 CA019014NCI NIH HHS R01 CA163217NCI NIH HHS R01 CA291437NCI NIH HHS U01 CA294800
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (MDA5) sensor recognizes double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) produced during viral infections, leading to type I interferon (IFN) production. Host proteins can shield endogenous dsRNA from MDA5 through RNA modifications, such as A-to-I editing of dsRNA by adenosine deaminase acting on RNA 1 (ADAR1). The splicing factor proline- and glutamine-rich (SFPQ) is an RNA-binding protein that regulates RNA biogenesis. However, its role in innate immunity has not been previously explored. We report that SFPQ can promote viral replication of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) and demonstrate that SFPQ can prevent IFN production not only in the context of viral replication but also in uninfected cells. Furthermore, SFPQ associates with ADAR1 and modulates A-to-I editing of cellular RNA transcripts. Moreover, SFPQ depletion in uninfected cells induced IFN response genes, including MDA5 and ZBP1, and impaired cell growth. In summary, SFPQ binds ADAR1 and modulates its editing function, thereby preventing cellular RNAs from activating MDA5-mediated innate immune responses.

Indexed as

Immunity, InnateInterferon-Induced Helicase, IFIH1PTB-Associated Splicing FactorRNA-Binding ProteinsAdenosine DeaminaseCell SurvivalHEK293 CellsHerpesvirus 8, HumanHumansRNA, Double-StrandedRNA EditingVirus ReplicationADAR protein, humanAdenosine DeaminaseIFIH1 protein, humanInterferon-Induced Helicase, IFIH1PTB-Associated Splicing FactorRNA-Binding ProteinsRNA, Double-StrandedADAR1A-to-ICP: immunologyeditinginnate immune responseKSHVMDA5SFPQZBP1

Identifiers

PMID42033727
PMCPMC13274335

What OpenQuestion holds

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Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.