Abstract
The interferon regulatory factor (IRF) family of transcription factors regulate the interferon (IFN) system, among which IRF-3 is involved in the virus-induced IFN-beta gene expression. Here we show that another member IRF-7 is critical for the IFN-alpha gene induction. Unlike the IRF-3 gene, the IRF-7 gene is induced by IFNs through activation of the ISGF3 transcription factor, and IRF-7 undergoes virus-induced nuclear translocation. In cells lacking p48, an essential component of IFN stimulated gene factor 3 (ISGF3), ectopic expression of IRF-7 but not IRF-3 can rescue the deficiency to induce IFN-alpha genes. These results indicate that IRF-7 is a key factor in the positive feedback regulation of IFN-alpha/beta production.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Amino Acid Sequence
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Animals
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Cells, Cultured
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DNA-Binding Proteins / chemistry
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DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics*
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DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
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Feedback
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Gene Expression Regulation*
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Genetic Vectors
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Interferon Regulatory Factor-7
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Interferon Type I / biosynthesis
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Interferon Type I / genetics*
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Interferon-Stimulated Gene Factor 3
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Interferon-Stimulated Gene Factor 3, gamma Subunit
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Mice
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Mice, Knockout
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Models, Genetic
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Retroviridae
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Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
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Sequence Alignment
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Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
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Transcription Factors / chemistry
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Transcription Factors / genetics*
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Transcription Factors / metabolism*
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Transcriptional Activation
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Transfection
Substances
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DNA-Binding Proteins
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Interferon Regulatory Factor-7
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Interferon Type I
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Interferon-Stimulated Gene Factor 3
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Interferon-Stimulated Gene Factor 3, gamma Subunit
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Irf7 protein, mouse
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Isgf3g protein, mouse
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Transcription Factors