On the Role of Interferon Regulatory Factors in HIV-1 Replication

: Interferons (IFNs) are pleiotropic cytokines that possess several biological activities and play a central role in basic and applied research as mediators of antiviral and antigrowth responses, modulators of the immune system, and therapeutic agents against viral diseases and cancer. Interferon re...

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Published in:Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 2003-12, Vol.1010 (1), p.29-42
Main Authors: MARSILI, GIULIA, BORSETTI, ALESSANDRA, SGARBANTI, MARCO, REMOLI, ANNA LISA, RIDOLFI, BARBARA, STELLACCI, EMILIA, ENSOLI, BARBARA, BATTISTINI, ANGELA
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
apoptosis
Apoptosis - physiology
gene expression
HIV-1 - physiology
Humans
interferons
Interferons - physiology
IRFs
Models, Biological
tat
transcription factors
Transcription Factors - metabolism
viral escape
virus replication
Virus Replication - physiology
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Summary:: Interferons (IFNs) are pleiotropic cytokines that possess several biological activities and play a central role in basic and applied research as mediators of antiviral and antigrowth responses, modulators of the immune system, and therapeutic agents against viral diseases and cancer. Interferon regulatory factors (IRFs) have been identified together with signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT) from studies on the type I IFN as well as IFN‐stimulated (ISG) gene regulation and signaling. IRFs constitute a family of transcriptional activators and repressors implicated in multiple biological processes including regulation of immune responses and host defence, cytokine signaling, cell growth regulation, and hematopoietic development. All members share a well‐conserved DNA binding domain at the NH2‐terminal region that recognizes similar DNA sequences, termed IRF element (IRF‐E)/interferon‐stimulated response element (ISRE), present on the promoter of target genes. Recently, a sequence homologous to the ISRE has been identified downstream from the 5′ human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV‐1) long terminal repeat (LTR). This sequence is a binding site for IRF‐1 and IRF‐2. Here we briefly summarize the role of IRFs in the regulation of HIV‐1 LTR transcriptional activity and virus replication. The overall effect of IRFs on HIV‐1 replication will also be discussed in the context of strategies carried out by the virus to counteract the IFN‐mediated host defences both in active replication and during the establishment of viral latency.
ISSN:0077-8923
1749-6632
DOI:10.1196/annals.1299.005