Distinct antiviral responses in pluripotent versus differentiated cells

In addition to reduced dsRNA-mediated induction of IFN, enhanced expression of SOCS1 (an inhibitor of the IFN-activated transcription factor STAT1) contributes to an attenuated response to IFN stimulation in pluripotent cells [16]. [...]multiple levels of the innate protein-based immune response, both upstream and downstream of IFN production, are attenuated in pluripotent cells. [...]if RNAi is to have antiviral function in somatic cells, the coordinated inhibition of Ago2 creates a significant paradox. [...]converse to the protein-based response to dsRNA in pluripotent cells, at least two components of the RNAi pathway are impaired in differentiated cells: 1) production and/or stability of siRNA; and 2) the activity of Ago2.\n Interferon has been shown to stimulate differentiation [28], suggesting that pluripotent cells may inhibit its expression as a means of maintaining potency.