title: Viral interferon regulatory factors.
abstract: Upon viral infection, the major defensive strategy employed by the host immune system is the activation of the interferon (IFN)-mediated antiviral pathway, which is overseen by IFN regulatory factors (IRFs). In order to complete their life cycles, viruses must find a way to modulate the host IFN-mediated immune response. Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), a human tumor-inducing herpesvirus, has developed a unique mechanism for antagonizing cellular IFN-mediated antiviral activity by incorporating viral homolog of the cellular IRFs, called vIRFs, into its genome. Here, we summarize the novel evasion mechanisms by which KSHV, through its vIRFs, circumvents IFN-mediated innate immune responses and deregulates the cell growth control mechanism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90033, USA. hyelee@usc.edu
authors.forename: Hye-Ra
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Myung Hee
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jong-Soo
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Chengyu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Jae U
authors.initials: JU
authors.lastname: Jung
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D050835:Interferon Regulatory Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D007372:Interferons / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D055550:Protein Stability; D012514:Sarcoma, Kaposi / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D015533:Transcriptional Activation; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D014774:Virulence; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: D050835:Interferon Regulatory Factors; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D014764:Viral Proteins; C413486:viral interferon regulatory factors; D007372:Interferons