Open AccessInterferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF1) and anti-pathogen innate immune responses
Author(s) -
Hui Feng,
Yibing Zhang,
JianFang Gui,
Stanley M. Lemon,
Daisuke Yamane
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
plos pathogens
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.719
H-Index - 206
eISSN - 1553-7374
pISSN - 1553-7366
DOI - 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009220
Subject(s) - irf1 , biology , interferon regulatory factors , interferon , innate immune system , genetics , transcription factor , gene , rna interference , microbiology and biotechnology , immune system , rna
The eponymous member of the interferon regulatory factor (IRF) family, IRF1, was originally identified as a nuclear factor that binds and activates the promoters of type I interferon genes. However, subsequent studies using genetic knockouts or RNAi-mediated depletion of IRF1 provide a much broader view, linking IRF1 to a wide range of functions in protection against invading pathogens. Conserved throughout vertebrate evolution, IRF1 has been shown in recent years to mediate constitutive as well as inducible host defenses against a variety of viruses. Fine-tuning of these ancient IRF1-mediated host defenses, and countering strategies by pathogens to disarm IRF1, play crucial roles in pathogenesis and determining the outcome of infection.