title: Activation and repression of the 2-5A synthetase and p21 gene promoters by IRF-1 and IRF-2.
abstract: The Interferon Regulatory Factors-1 and -2 (IRF-1 and IRF-2) were originally identified as transcriptional regulators of the interferon (IFN) and IFN-stimulated genes. These factors also modulate immune response and play a role in cell growth regulation. In this study we analysed the effect of the ectopic expression of IRF-1 and IRF-2 on the regulation of two potential IRF target genes involved in cell growth regulation, 2-5A synthetase and p21 (WAF/CP1), both of which contain consensus binding sites for IRF family members within their promoters. Following ectopic expression, IRF-1 transactivated 2-5A synthetase and p21 genes, an effect that was counterbalanced by concomitant ectopic expression of IRF-2. These effects were mediated by direct binding of IRF to the gene promoters. A construct expressing an IRF-2 antisense (FRI-2) was able to revert the inhibitory effect of IRF-2 on the IRF-1 transactivation. IRF-1 also induced expression of its homologous repressor IRF-2 as indicated by EMSA analysis using an IRF-E probe from the IRF-2 promoter; and by cotransfection of IRF-1 together with an IRF-2 promoter CAT construct. Therefore, the induction of IRF-1 by IFNs or other stimuli acts as a transactivator of genes involved in cell growth regulation, as well as of its own repressor IRF-2, thus providing autoinhibitory regulation of IRF-1 activated genes.
mesh_terms: D015088:2',5'-Oligoadenylate Synthetase / Q000235:genetics*; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000235:genetics; D050759:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21; D016213:Cyclins / Q000235:genetics*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D004794:Enzyme Repression; D050856:Interferon Regulatory Factor-1; D050836:Interferon Regulatory Factor-2; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology; D008957:Models, Genetic; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011485:Protein Binding; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D015533:Transcriptional Activation