Roles of interferon-regulatory factors in T-helper-cell differentiation.
Members of the interferon-regulatory factor family of transcription factors have long been known to be intracellular mediators of the effects of interferons. In recent years, interferon-regulatory factors have also been shown to have an essential role in the differentiation of T helper cells, both by modulating the functions of antigen-presenting cells and by having direct effects on the T helper cells themselves. Depending on the interferon-regulatory factor involved, the differentiation of T helper cells to either T helper 1 cells or T helper 2 cells can be influenced. In this article, we provide an overview of this relatively new and still underappreciated role of interferon-regulatory factors.
Lohoff
Michael
M
Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie, Pilgrimstein 2, 35037, Marburg, Germany. lohoff@post.med.uni-marburg.de
Mak
Tak W
TW
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000276:immunology; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000276:immunology*
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors