Interferons, Interferon Receptors, Signal Transducer and Transcriptional Activators, and Interferon Regulatory Factors

Charles E Samuel

doi:10.1074/jbc.r700025200

Abstract

Interferons, Interferon Receptors, Signal Transducer and Transcriptional Activators, and Interferon Regulatory Factors

Highlights

The combined biochemical and genetic studies of the mechanisms by which interferons induce the transcriptional activation of new cellular gene expression led to the discovery of the Janus tyrosine kinase (JAK)-signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT) signaling pathway
Christian Schindler at Columbia University in New York, David Levy at New York University School of Medicine, and Thomas Decker at the University of Vienna prepared a minireview entitled “JAK-STAT Signaling: from Interferons to Cytokines.”. In that minireview they provide an overview of four members of the JAK family of kinases and seven members of the STAT family of transcription factors and focus on biochemical and structural studies that provide new insights into the mechanisms by which the STAT factors regulate transcription (8)
The final minireview of this thematic series on interferon signaling and innate immunity focuses on the interferon regulatory factor family of transcription factors and their diverse roles in establishing host resistance against pathogens

Summary

Introduction

2 The abbreviations used are: IFN, interferon; IFNAR, type I interferon receptor; IFNGR, type II interferon receptor; IRF, interferon regulatory factor; JAK, Janus kinase; STAT, signal transducers and activators of transcription. Responsible for the biologic activities of IFNs, including the IFN-induced antiviral state that is a cornerstone of antiviral innate immunity (2) and the property by which IFNs were discovered (1).

Results

Conclusion