Taniguchi T
Department of Immunology, University of Tokyo, Japan.
Indian J Biochem Biophys. 1995 Oct;32(5):235-9.
Interferons (IFNs) are families of cytokines which have been discovered and extensively characterized in the context of host defense against viral infections. We have discovered two structurally related transcription factors, Interferon regulatory factor-1 (IRF-1) and IRF-2. These two factors, however, function not only as regulators of the IFN system, but are also key transcription factors in the regulation of cell cycle and apoptosis. These studies uncover a complex gene transcription network, by which the fate of cellular responses are determined depending on how the IRF transcription factors function in conjunction with other factors, and on the promoters of distinct genes under different conditions of the cells.
干扰素（IFNs）是一类细胞因子家族，已在宿主抵御病毒感染的背景下被发现并得到广泛表征。我们发现了两种结构相关的转录因子，即干扰素调节因子-1（IRF-1）和IRF-2。然而，这两种因子不仅作为干扰素系统的调节因子发挥作用，也是细胞周期和细胞凋亡调节中的关键转录因子。这些研究揭示了一个复杂的基因转录网络，通过该网络，细胞反应的命运取决于IRF转录因子与其他因子的协同作用方式，以及在细胞不同条件下不同基因的启动子情况。
