Taniguchi T, Ogasawara K, Takaoka A, Tanaka N
Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Hongo 7-3-1, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.
Annu Rev Immunol. 2001;19:623-55. doi: 10.1146/annurev.immunol.19.1.623.
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.
干扰素调节因子（IRFs）构成了一类转录因子家族，它们通常拥有一种新型的螺旋-转角-螺旋DNA结合基序。在最初鉴定出两个结构相关的成员IRF-1和IRF-2之后，现在又报道了另外七个成员。此外，还鉴定出了病毒编码的IRFs，它们可能会干扰细胞内的IRFs。到目前为止，已经对IRF-1进行了深入的功能分析，揭示了这种转录因子在宿主防御中细胞反应调节方面具有显著的功能多样性。事实上，IRF-1会根据细胞类型和/或细胞刺激的性质选择性地调节不同的基因集，以便在每种情况下引发适当的反应。最近，人们也将大量注意力集中在了其他IRF家族成员上。通过与它们自身或转录因子家族的其他成员相互作用，它们在宿主防御调节中的功能作用，如固有免疫和适应性免疫反应以及肿瘤发生，正变得越来越清晰。
