Taniguchi T
Institute for Molecular and Cellular Biology, Osaka University.
Rinsho Ketsueki. 1991 Apr;32(4):301-6.
Interferon (IFNs), as a class of antiviral cytokines, are also known as "negative growth regulators," they inhibit the growth of a variety of normal and malignant cells. Normally, Type I IFNs (i.e. IFN-alpha, -beta) are not induced, but viruses and a number of other cytokines transiently activate the IFN genes. In order to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of cellular responses by viruses and cytokines, we have identified two nuclear factors, IRF-1 and IRF-2, both bind to the regulatory cis-elements of IFN and IFN-responsive genes. The genes encoding IRF-1 and IRF-2, have been cloned and extensively characterized. The IRF cDNA expression studies in factor-negative cells have revealed IRF-1 and IRF-2 to function as transcriptional activator and repressor, respectively. In normal cells, the IRF genes are subject to induction through stimuli such as viruses and cytokines including IFNs per se. The findings provide evidence for the presence of an elaborate network of cytokines system wherein the IRFs play a crucial role for the cytokine-mediated cellular responses.
干扰素（IFNs）作为一类抗病毒细胞因子，也被称为“负生长调节因子”，它们能抑制多种正常细胞和恶性细胞的生长。正常情况下，I型干扰素（即IFN-α、-β）不会被诱导产生，但病毒和许多其他细胞因子会短暂激活干扰素基因。为了阐明病毒和细胞因子引发细胞反应的分子机制，我们鉴定出了两种核因子，即IRF-1和IRF-2，它们都能与干扰素及干扰素反应基因的调控顺式元件结合。编码IRF-1和IRF-2的基因已被克隆并进行了广泛的特性分析。在缺乏因子的细胞中进行的IRF cDNA表达研究表明，IRF-1和IRF-2分别作为转录激活因子和抑制因子发挥作用。在正常细胞中，IRF基因会通过病毒和包括干扰素本身在内的细胞因子等刺激而被诱导。这些发现为存在一个复杂的细胞因子系统网络提供了证据，其中IRF在细胞因子介导的细胞反应中起着关键作用。
