Tumor suppressor Interferon Regulatory Factor 1 selectively blocks expression of endogenous retrovirus.

Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) comprise 10% of the genome, with many of these transcriptionally silenced post early embryogenesis. Several stimuli, including exogenous virus infection and cellular transformation can reactivate ERV expression via a poorly understood mechanism. We identified Interferon Regulatory Factor 1 (IRF-1), a tumor suppressor and an antiviral host factor, as a suppressor of ERV expression. IRF-1 decreased expression of a specific mouse ERV in vitro and in vivo. IRF-3, but not IRF-7, also decreased expression of distinct ERV families, suggesting that suppression of ERVs is a relevant biological function of the IRF family. Given the emerging appreciation of the physiological relevance of ERV expression in cancer, IRF-1-mediated suppression of specific ERVs may contribute to the overall tumor suppressor activity of this host factor.