RNAi and related mechanisms and their potential use for therapy

Introduction of double-stranded RNAs into cells can suppress gene expression by mechanisms such as mRNA degradation or inhibition of translation. In mammalian cells, these two responses intersect, a feature that was recently used for the development of novel tools for stable and specific gene inactivation. These new tools were successfully applied to inhibit tumorigenicity and viral replication. Future development of appropriate in vivo delivery systems may make this technology useful for disease therapy.