Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 3, 2026
08:32
Dissecting Innate Immune Signaling in Viral Evasion of Cytokine Production
Published on: March 2, 2014
Gene induction pathways mediated by distinct IRFs during viral infection
1Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine and Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Hongo 7-3-1, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan.
Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
|May 18, 2001
Summary
Viral infections trigger interferon responses. This study reveals distinct gene induction pathways involving IRF transcription factors and ISGF3, crucial for the host
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Molecular Biology
- Virology
Background:
- Interferon-alpha/beta (IFN-alpha/beta) and IFN-inducible genes are critical for host antiviral responses during viral infections.
- The IRF (interferon regulatory factor) family of transcription factors plays a key role in regulating these responses.
- Understanding the specific pathways that control gene induction is essential for comprehending the host's defense mechanisms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the distinct gene induction pathways governing the expression of IFN-alpha/beta and other IFN-inducible genes during viral infection.
- To investigate the roles of IRF transcription factors (IRF-3, IRF-7) and ISGF3 (IFN stimulated gene factor 3) in these pathways.
- To determine how differential pathway utilization contributes to the host's overall antiviral efficacy.
Main Methods:
- Utilized gene-disrupted cell lines lacking specific IRF family members.
- Analyzed the induction patterns of IFN-beta, IFN-alpha gene family, ISG15, ISG54, and IP-10 genes.
- Differentiated between direct viral induction, IFN-induced signaling, and combined pathways.
Main Results:
- IFN-beta gene induction relies on either IRF-3 or IRF-7.
- IFN-alpha gene family induction is exclusively dependent on IRF-7.
- ISG15, ISG54, and IP-10 are induced by IRF-3 or ISGF3, with some genes solely dependent on ISGF3.
Conclusions:
- During viral infection, genes are activated through distinct pathways involving IRF transcription factors and ISGF3, responding either to the virus, induced IFNs, or both.
- The specific induction pathway utilized by a gene is linked to its functional role in mounting an effective antiviral response.
- Differential pathway activation provides a sophisticated mechanism for the host to tailor its defense against viral threats.
Related Concept Videos
01:23RNA Interference
RNA interference (RNAi) is a process in which a small non-coding RNA molecule blocks the post-transcriptional expression of a gene by binding to its messenger RNA (mRNA) and preventing the protein from being translated.
This process occurs naturally in cells, often through the activity of genomically-encoded microRNAs. Researchers can take advantage of this mechanism by introducing synthetic RNAs to deactivate specific genes for research or therapeutic purposes. For example, RNAi could be used...
This process occurs naturally in cells, often through the activity of genomically-encoded microRNAs. Researchers can take advantage of this mechanism by introducing synthetic RNAs to deactivate specific genes for research or therapeutic purposes. For example, RNAi could be used...
01:23RNA Interference
RNA interference (RNAi) is a process in which a small non-coding RNA molecule blocks the post-transcriptional expression of a gene by binding to its messenger RNA (mRNA) and preventing the protein from being translated.
This process occurs naturally in cells, often through the activity of genomically-encoded microRNAs. Researchers can take advantage of this mechanism by introducing synthetic RNAs to deactivate specific genes for research or therapeutic purposes. For example, RNAi could be used...
This process occurs naturally in cells, often through the activity of genomically-encoded microRNAs. Researchers can take advantage of this mechanism by introducing synthetic RNAs to deactivate specific genes for research or therapeutic purposes. For example, RNAi could be used...
02:30siRNA - Small Interfering RNAs
Small interfering RNAs, or siRNAs, are short regulatory RNA molecules that can silence genes post-transcriptionally, as well as the transcriptional level in some cases. siRNAs are important for protecting cells against viral infections and silencing transposable genetic elements.
In the cytoplasm, siRNA is processed from a double-stranded RNA, which comes from either endogenous DNA transcription or exogenous sources like a virus. This double-stranded RNA is then cleaved by the ATP-dependent...
In the cytoplasm, siRNA is processed from a double-stranded RNA, which comes from either endogenous DNA transcription or exogenous sources like a virus. This double-stranded RNA is then cleaved by the ATP-dependent...
02:26NF-κB-dependent Signaling Pathway
The transcription factor NF-κB was discovered in 1986 in the lab of Nobel laureate Professor David Baltimore, for its interaction with the immunoglobulin light chain enhancer in B-cells. After more than three decades of study, it is now evident that NF-κB regulates the expression of over 100 genes. Most of these genes play an essential role in the innate and adaptive immune responses as well as the inflammatory responses of animals.
NF-κB-dependent Signaling Mechanism
The heterodimer of NF-κB...
NF-κB-dependent Signaling Mechanism
The heterodimer of NF-κB...
01:29Immune Response Against Viral Pathogens
The immune system's response to viral infections is a complex and coordinated process involving natural killer (NK) cells, T cell-mediated responses, and antibody-mediated responses.
NK Cells
NK cells are a crucial part of our innate immune system, acting as the first line of defense against viral infections. These cells can recognize and kill infected cells without prior exposure to the virus, effectively slowing down the spread of infection. Additionally, NK cells produce proinflammatory...
NK Cells
NK cells are a crucial part of our innate immune system, acting as the first line of defense against viral infections. These cells can recognize and kill infected cells without prior exposure to the virus, effectively slowing down the spread of infection. Additionally, NK cells produce proinflammatory...
01:30Inhibitors of Viral Protein Synthesis
Protein synthesis is indispensable for viral replication, as viruses lack the cellular machinery required for this process and must hijack the host's translational apparatus. In response, host cells deploy a critical innate immune defense involving interferons, specialized cytokines that play a central role in inhibiting viral propagation.Upon viral detection, infected cells release interferons that bind to receptors on adjacent uninfected cells, activating the JAK-STAT signaling pathway and...