Polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (usually abbreviated poly I:C) is an immunostimulant. It is used in the form of its sodium salt to simulate viral infections.Poly I:C is known to interact with toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) which is expressed in the membrane of B-cells macrophages and dendritic cells. Poly I:C is structurally similar to double-stranded RNA which is present in some viruses and is a natural stimulant of TLR3.
