IRF family of transcription factors as regulators of host defense.
Interferon regulatory factors (IRFs) constitute a family of transcription factors that commonly possess a novel helix-turn-helix DNA-binding motif. Following the initial identification of two structurally related members, IRF-1 and IRF-2, seven additional members have now been reported. In addition, virally encoded IRFs, which may interfere with cellular IRFs, have also been identified. Thus far, intensive functional analyses have been done on IRF-1, revealing a remarkable functional diversity of this transcription factor in the regulation of cellular response in host defense. Indeed, IRF-1 selectively modulates different sets of genes, depending on the cell type and/or the nature of cellular stimuli, in order to evoke appropriate responses in each. More recently, much attention has also been focused on other IRF family members. Their functional roles, through interactions with their own or other members of the family of transcription factors, are becoming clearer in the regulation of host defense, such as innate and adaptive immune responses and oncogenesis.
Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Hongo 7-3-1, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan. tada@m.u-tokyo.ac.jp
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Taniguchi
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Ogasawara
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Takaoka
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Tanaka
D000818:Animals; D015551:Autoimmunity; D002453:Cell Cycle; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D019077:Helix-Turn-Helix Motifs; D006649:Histocompatibility Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity / Q000235:genetics*; D050856:Interferon Regulatory Factor-1; D050836:Interferon Regulatory Factor-2; D050838:Interferon Regulatory Factor-3; D050839:Interferon Regulatory Factor-7; D050835:Interferon Regulatory Factors; D050832:Interferon-Stimulated Gene Factor 3; D050834:Interferon-Stimulated Gene Factor 3, gamma Subunit; D007372:Interferons / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology; D008262:Macrophage Activation; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000502:physiology*; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000502:physiology; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000502:physiology*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000502:physiology*; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D000099185:Interferon Regulatory Factor-8; D000099218:Interferon Regulatory Factor-4
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D006649:Histocompatibility Antigens; D050856:Interferon Regulatory Factor-1; D050836:Interferon Regulatory Factor-2; D050838:Interferon Regulatory Factor-3; D050839:Interferon Regulatory Factor-7; D050835:Interferon Regulatory Factors; D050832:Interferon-Stimulated Gene Factor 3; D050834:Interferon-Stimulated Gene Factor 3, gamma Subunit; D007372:Interferons; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D000099185:Interferon Regulatory Factor-8; D000099218:Interferon Regulatory Factor-4; C494257:IRF1 protein, human; C494229:IRF2 protein, human; C494232:IRF3 protein, human; C431713:IRF5 protein, human; C109803:IRF6 protein, human; C494234:IRF7 protein, human; C494227:IRF9 protein, human