Structure and function of IRF-7.

Luwen Zhang, Joseph S Pagano

Journal: Journal of interferon & cytokine research : the official journal of the International Society for Interferon and Cytokine Research 2002;22(1):95-101

PMID: 11846980

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Abstract

Interferon (IFN) regulatory factors (IRF) are a family of transcription factors with multiple functions. IRF-7 was initially cloned within the biologic context of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) latency and discovered to have an intimate relation with the EBV primary oncogenic protein, latent membrane protein-1 (LMP-1). EBV regulates and uses IRF-7 as a secondary mediator for several target genes involved in latency and immune regulation. Other than its functions in EBV latency, IRF-7 has been identified as one of the major players in virally induced IFN production that is central to innate immunity. Thus, IRF-7 plays important roles in a variety of biologic systems.

Address: Nebraska Center for Virology, UNL Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA. [email protected]

DOI: 10.1089/107999002753452700