In virally-infected cells, both RNA and DNA can be transcribed, and the resulting double-stranded RNA is an alarm signal for infection, as it is captured by the [[RNA interference]] pathway, imported into the [[endplasmic reticulum]] and then displayed on the cell surface in a specific subtype of MHC class II molecules. These short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) cause the production of [[interferon]]s, and the activation of the immune system. | In virally-infected cells, both RNA and DNA can be transcribed, and the resulting double-stranded RNA is an alarm signal for infection, as it is captured by the [[RNA interference]] pathway, imported into the [[endplasmic reticulum]] and then displayed on the cell surface in a specific subtype of MHC class II molecules. These short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) cause the production of [[interferon]]s, and the activation of the immune system. |