Interferons ( IFN s, / ˌ ɪ n t ər ˈ f ɪər ɒ n / IN -tər- FEER -on ) are a group of signaling proteins made and released by host cells in response to the presence of several viruses . In a typical scenario, a virus-infected cell will release interferons causing nearby cells to heighten their anti-viral defenses.
101-443: 3WWT , 1BF5 , 1YVL , 2KA6 6772 20846 ENSG00000115415 ENSMUSG00000026104 P42224 P42225 NM_007315 NM_139266 NM_001205313 NM_001205314 NM_009283 NM_001357627 NP_009330 NP_644671 n/a Signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 ( STAT1 ) is a transcription factor which in humans is encoded by the STAT1 gene . It
202-623: A change in the pathogen spectrum. STAT1 loss of function, therefore STAT1 deficiency can have many variants. There are two main genetic impairments that can cause response to interferons type I and III. First there can be autosomal recessive partial or even complete deficiency of STAT1. That causes intracellular bacterial diseases or viral infections and impaired IFN a, b, g and IL27 responses are diagnosed. In partial form there can also be found high levels of IFNg in blood serum. When tested from whole blood, monocytes do not respond to BCG and IFNg doses with IL-12 production. In complete recessive form there
303-554: A complete lack of STAT-1 and resulted in a lack of formation of both GAF and ISGF3. Gain of function mutation was first discovered in patients with chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis (CMC). This disease is characteristic with its symptoms as persistent infections of the skin, mucosae - oral or genital and nails infections caused by Candida , mostly Candida albicans . CMC may very often result from primary immunodeficiency. Patients with CMC often suffer also with bacterial infections (mostly Staphylococcus aureus ), also with infections of
404-454: A compound in garlic. Mutations in the STAT1 molecule can be gain of function (GOF) or loss of function (LOF). Both of them can cause different phenotypes and symptoms. Recurring common infections are frequent in both GOF and LOF mutations. In humans STAT1 has been particularly under strong purifying selection when populations shifted from hunting and gathering to farming, because this went along with
505-503: A different strength of interaction. For example, although the consensus binding site for the TATA-binding protein (TBP) is TATAAAA, the TBP transcription factor can also bind similar sequences such as TATATAT or TATATAA. Because transcription factors can bind a set of related sequences and these sequences tend to be short, potential transcription factor binding sites can occur by chance if
606-449: A gene on a chromosome into RNA, and then the RNA is translated into protein. Any of these steps can be regulated to affect the production (and thus activity) of a transcription factor. An implication of this is that transcription factors can regulate themselves. For example, in a negative feedback loop, the transcription factor acts as its own repressor: If the transcription factor protein binds
707-431: A half CMC cases. This mutation is caused by defect in the coiled-coil domain, domain that binds DNA, N-terminal domain or SH2 domain. Because of this there is increased phosphorylation because of impossible dephosphorylation in nucleus. These processes are dependent on cytokines like interferon alpha or beta, interferon gamma or interleukin 27. As mentioned above, low levels of interleukin 17A were observed, therefore impaired
808-421: A host cell to promote pathogenesis. A well studied example of this are the transcription-activator like effectors ( TAL effectors ) secreted by Xanthomonas bacteria. When injected into plants, these proteins can enter the nucleus of the plant cell, bind plant promoter sequences, and activate transcription of plant genes that aid in bacterial infection. TAL effectors contain a central repeat region in which there
909-773: A living cell. Additional recognition specificity, however, may be obtained through the use of more than one DNA-binding domain (for example tandem DBDs in the same transcription factor or through dimerization of two transcription factors) that bind to two or more adjacent sequences of DNA. Transcription factors are of clinical significance for at least two reasons: (1) mutations can be associated with specific diseases, and (2) they can be targets of medications. Due to their important roles in development, intercellular signaling, and cell cycle, some human diseases have been associated with mutations in transcription factors. Many transcription factors are either tumor suppressors or oncogenes , and, thus, mutations or aberrant regulation of them
1010-417: A major role in determining sex in humans. Cells can communicate with each other by releasing molecules that produce signaling cascades within another receptive cell. If the signal requires upregulation or downregulation of genes in the recipient cell, often transcription factors will be downstream in the signaling cascade. Estrogen signaling is an example of a fairly short signaling cascade that involves
1111-454: A mediator of interferon-induced suppression of viral protein translation, although mechanisms of acquired and intrinsic resistance to interferon therapy in HCV are polyfactorial. Coronaviruses evade innate immunity during the first ten days of viral infection. In the early stages of infection, SARS-CoV-2 induces an even lower interferon type I (IFN-I) response than SARS-CoV , which itself
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#17331162254661212-853: A methylated CpG site, 175 transcription factors (34%) that had enhanced binding if their binding sequence had a methylated CpG site, and 25 transcription factors (5%) were either inhibited or had enhanced binding depending on where in the binding sequence the methylated CpG was located. TET enzymes do not specifically bind to methylcytosine except when recruited (see DNA demethylation ). Multiple transcription factors important in cell differentiation and lineage specification, including NANOG , SALL4 A, WT1 , EBF1 , PU.1 , and E2A , have been shown to recruit TET enzymes to specific genomic loci (primarily enhancers) to act on methylcytosine (mC) and convert it to hydroxymethylcytosine hmC (and in most cases marking them for subsequent complete demethylation to cytosine). TET-mediated conversion of mC to hmC appears to disrupt
1313-402: A possible choice of treatment for these patients. STAT1 has been shown to interact with: Transcription factor In molecular biology , a transcription factor ( TF ) (or sequence-specific DNA-binding factor ) is a protein that controls the rate of transcription of genetic information from DNA to messenger RNA , by binding to a specific DNA sequence . The function of TFs
1414-804: A protein known as eIF-2 in response to new viral infections; the phosphorylated eIF-2 forms an inactive complex with another protein, called eIF2B , to reduce protein synthesis within the cell. Another cellular enzyme, RNAse L —also induced by interferon action—destroys RNA within the cells to further reduce protein synthesis of both viral and host genes. Inhibited protein synthesis impairs both virus replication and infected host cells. In addition, interferons induce production of hundreds of other proteins—known collectively as interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs)—that have roles in combating viruses and other actions produced by interferon. They also limit viral spread by increasing p53 activity, which kills virus-infected cells by promoting apoptosis . The effect of IFN on p53
1515-610: A result, an IFN-stimulated gene factor 3 (ISGF3) complex forms—this contains STAT1, STAT2 and a third transcription factor called IRF9 —and moves into the cell nucleus . Inside the nucleus, the ISGF3 complex binds to specific nucleotide sequences called IFN-stimulated response elements (ISREs) in the promoters of certain genes , known as IFN stimulated genes ISGs . Binding of ISGF3 and other transcriptional complexes activated by IFN signaling to these specific regulatory elements induces transcription of those genes. A collection of known ISGs
1616-452: A smaller number. Therefore, approximately 10% of genes in the genome code for transcription factors, which makes this family the single largest family of human proteins. Furthermore, genes are often flanked by several binding sites for distinct transcription factors, and efficient expression of each of these genes requires the cooperative action of several different transcription factors (see, for example, hepatocyte nuclear factors ). Hence,
1717-466: A sustained virological response and can eliminate hepatitis virus in the case of hepatitis C. The most common strain of hepatitis C virus (HCV) worldwide—genotype I— can be treated with interferon-α, ribavirin and protease inhibitors such as telaprevir , boceprevir or the nucleotide analog polymerase inhibitor sofosbuvir . Biopsies of patients given the treatment show reductions in liver damage and cirrhosis . Control of chronic hepatitis C by IFN
1818-494: A system that involved the inhibition of the growth of live influenza virus in chicken embryo chorioallantoic membranes by heat-inactivated influenza virus. Their experiments revealed that this interference was mediated by a protein released by cells in the heat-inactivated influenza virus-treated membranes. They published their results in 1957 naming the antiviral factor they had discovered interferon . The findings of Isaacs and Lindenmann have been widely confirmed and corroborated in
1919-487: A type of eye infection. There is no clear evidence to suggest that removing the infected tissue ( debridement ) followed by interferon drops is an effective treatment approach for these types of eye infections. Unconfirmed results suggested that the combination of interferon and an antiviral agent may speed the healing process compared to antiviral therapy alone. When used in systemic therapy, IFNs are mostly administered by an intramuscular injection. The injection of IFNs in
2020-419: Is chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP). This technique relies on chemical fixation of chromatin with formaldehyde , followed by co-precipitation of DNA and the transcription factor of interest using an antibody that specifically targets that protein. The DNA sequences can then be identified by microarray or high-throughput sequencing ( ChIP-seq ) to determine transcription factor binding sites. If no antibody
2121-626: Is a member of the STAT protein family. All STAT molecules are phosphorylated by receptor associated kinases, that causes activation, dimerization by forming homo- or heterodimers and finally translocate to nucleus to work as transcription factors. Specifically STAT1 can be activated by several ligands such as Interferon alpha (IFNα), Interferon gamma (IFNγ), Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF), Platelet Derived Growth Factor (PDGF), Interleukin 6 (IL-6), or IL-27. Type I interferons (IFN-α, IFN-ß) bind to receptors, cause signaling via kinases, phosphorylate and activate
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#17331162254662222-456: Is a new form of primary immunodeficiency and whenever a patient suffers sudden, severe and unexpected bacterial and viral infections, should be considered as potentially STAT1 deficient. Interferons induce the formation of two transcriptional activators: gamma-activating factor (GAF) and interferon-stimulated gamma factor 3 (ISGF3). A natural heterozygous germline STAT1 mutation associated with susceptibility to mycobacterial but not viral disease
2323-447: Is a simple relationship between the identity of two critical residues in sequential repeats and sequential DNA bases in the TAL effector's target site. This property likely makes it easier for these proteins to evolve in order to better compete with the defense mechanisms of the host cell. It is common in biology for important processes to have multiple layers of regulation and control. This
2424-403: Is a very low response to anti-viral and antimycotical medication. Second, partial STAT1 deficiency can also be an autosomal dominant mutation; phenotypically causing impaired IFNg responses and causing patients to suffer with selective intracellular bacterial diseases (MSMD). In knock-out mice prepared in the 90s, a low amount of CD4 and CD25 regulatory T-cells and almost no IFNa, b and g response
2525-464: Is a weak IFN-I inducer in human cells. SARS-CoV-2 limits the IFN-III response as well. Reduced numbers of plasmacytoid dendritic cells with age is associated with increased COVID-19 severity, possibly because these cells are substantial interferon producers. Ten percent of patients with life-threatening COVID-19 have autoantibodies against type I interferon. Delayed IFN-I response contributes to
2626-399: Is also induced by mitogens . Other cytokines, such as interleukin 1 , interleukin 2 , interleukin-12 , tumor necrosis factor and colony-stimulating factor , can also enhance interferon production. By interacting with their specific receptors, IFNs activate signal transducer and activator of transcription ( STAT ) complexes; STATs are a family of transcription factors that regulate
2727-604: Is also linked to its protective role against certain cancers. Another function of interferons is to up-regulate major histocompatibility complex molecules, MHC I and MHC II , and increase immunoproteasome activity. All interferons significantly enhance the presentation of MHC I dependent antigens. Interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) also significantly stimulates the MHC II-dependent presentation of antigens. Higher MHC I expression increases presentation of viral and abnormal peptides from cancer cells to cytotoxic T cells , while
2828-510: Is also regulated by both type I and type II IFNs. PI3K activates P70-S6 Kinase 1 , an enzyme that increases protein synthesis and cell proliferation; phosphorylates ribosomal protein s6 , which is involved in protein synthesis; and phosphorylates a translational repressor protein called eukaryotic translation-initiation factor 4E-binding protein 1 ( EIF4EBP1 ) in order to deactivate it. Interferons can disrupt signaling by other stimuli. For example, interferon alpha induces RIG-G, which disrupts
2929-455: Is also true with transcription factors: Not only do transcription factors control the rates of transcription to regulate the amounts of gene products (RNA and protein) available to the cell but transcription factors themselves are regulated (often by other transcription factors). Below is a brief synopsis of some of the ways that the activity of transcription factors can be regulated: Transcription factors (like all proteins) are transcribed from
3030-479: Is associated with cancer. Three groups of transcription factors are known to be important in human cancer: (1) the NF-kappaB and AP-1 families, (2) the STAT family and (3) the steroid receptors . Below are a few of the better-studied examples: Approximately 10% of currently prescribed drugs directly target the nuclear receptor class of transcription factors. Examples include tamoxifen and bicalutamide for
3131-678: Is associated with reduced hepatocellular carcinoma . A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the gene encoding the type III interferon IFN-λ3 was found to be protective against chronic infection following proven HCV infection and predicted treatment response to interferon-based regimens. The frequency of the SNP differed significantly by race, partly explaining observed differences in response to interferon therapy between European-Americans and African-Americans. Unconfirmed results suggested that interferon eye drops may be an effective treatment for people who have herpes simplex virus epithelial keratitis ,
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3232-595: Is available for the protein of interest, DamID may be a convenient alternative. As described in more detail below, transcription factors may be classified by their (1) mechanism of action, (2) regulatory function, or (3) sequence homology (and hence structural similarity) in their DNA-binding domains. They are also classified by 3D structure of their DBD and the way it contacts DNA. There are two mechanistic classes of transcription factors: Transcription factors have been classified according to their regulatory function: Transcription factors are often classified based on
3333-461: Is available on Interferome , a curated online database of ISGs ( www.interferome.org ); Additionally, STAT homodimers or heterodimers form from different combinations of STAT-1, -3, -4, -5, or -6 during IFN signaling; these dimers initiate gene transcription by binding to IFN-activated site (GAS) elements in gene promoters. Type I IFNs can induce expression of genes with either ISRE or GAS elements, but gene induction by type II IFN can occur only in
3434-442: Is called its DNA-binding domain. Below is a partial list of some of the major families of DNA-binding domains/transcription factors: The DNA sequence that a transcription factor binds to is called a transcription factor-binding site or response element . Transcription factors interact with their binding sites using a combination of electrostatic (of which hydrogen bonds are a special case) and Van der Waals forces . Due to
3535-403: Is followed by guanine in the 5' to 3' DNA sequence, a CpG site .) Methylation of CpG sites in a promoter region of a gene usually represses gene transcription, while methylation of CpGs in the body of a gene increases expression. TET enzymes play a central role in demethylation of methylated cytosines. Demethylation of CpGs in a gene promoter by TET enzyme activity increases transcription of
3636-595: Is necessary for conventional interferon-alpha. When used with the antiviral drug ribavirin , PEGylated interferon is effective in treatment of hepatitis C ; at least 75% of people with hepatitis C genotypes 2 or 3 benefit from interferon treatment, although this is effective in less than 50% of people infected with genotype 1 (the more common form of hepatitis C virus in both the U.S. and Western Europe). Interferon-containing regimens may also include protease inhibitors such as boceprevir and telaprevir . There are also interferon-inducing drugs, notably tilorone that
3737-409: Is not clear that they are "drugable" but progress has been made on Pax2 and the notch pathway. Gene duplications have played a crucial role in the evolution of species. This applies particularly to transcription factors. Once they occur as duplicates, accumulated mutations encoding for one copy can take place without negatively affecting the regulation of downstream targets. However, changes of
3838-414: Is organized with the help of histones into compact particles called nucleosomes , where sequences of about 147 DNA base pairs make ~1.65 turns around histone protein octamers. DNA within nucleosomes is inaccessible to many transcription factors. Some transcription factors, so-called pioneer factors are still able to bind their DNA binding sites on the nucleosomal DNA. For most other transcription factors,
3939-551: Is shown to be effective against Ebola virus . Interferons were first described in 1957 by Alick Isaacs and Jean Lindenmann at the National Institute for Medical Research in London; the discovery was a result of their studies of viral interference . Viral interference refers to the inhibition of virus growth caused by previous exposure of cells to an active or a heat-inactivated virus. Isaacs and Lindenmann were working with
4040-628: Is that they contain at least one DNA-binding domain (DBD), which attaches to a specific sequence of DNA adjacent to the genes that they regulate. TFs are grouped into classes based on their DBDs. Other proteins such as coactivators , chromatin remodelers , histone acetyltransferases , histone deacetylases , kinases , and methylases are also essential to gene regulation, but lack DNA-binding domains, and therefore are not TFs. TFs are of interest in medicine because TF mutations can cause specific diseases, and medications can be potentially targeted toward them. Transcription factors are essential for
4141-456: Is to regulate—turn on and off—genes in order to make sure that they are expressed in the desired cells at the right time and in the right amount throughout the life of the cell and the organism. Groups of TFs function in a coordinated fashion to direct cell division , cell growth , and cell death throughout life; cell migration and organization ( body plan ) during embryonic development; and intermittently in response to signals from outside
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4242-523: Is used (in combination with chemotherapy and radiation) as a treatment for some cancers. This treatment can be used in hematological malignancy , such as in leukemia and lymphomas including hairy cell leukemia , chronic myeloid leukemia , nodular lymphoma, and cutaneous T-cell lymphoma . Patients with recurrent melanomas receive recombinant IFN-α2b. Both hepatitis B and hepatitis C can be treated with IFN-α, often in combination with other antiviral drugs. Some of those treated with interferon have
4343-536: The GAS (Interferon- G amma- A ctivated S equence) promoter element; in response to either IFN-α or IFN-β stimulation, STAT1 forms a heterodimer with STAT2 that can bind the ISRE ( I nterferon- S timulated R esponse E lement) promoter element. In either case, binding of the promoter element leads to an increased expression of ISG ( I nterferon- S timulated G enes). Expression of STAT1 can be induced with diallyl disulfide ,
4444-507: The TET1 protein that initiates a pathway of DNA demethylation . EGR1, together with TET1, is employed in programming the distribution of methylation sites on brain DNA during brain development and in learning (see Epigenetics in learning and memory ). Transcription factors are modular in structure and contain the following domains : The portion ( domain ) of the transcription factor that binds DNA
4545-920: The estrogen receptor transcription factor: Estrogen is secreted by tissues such as the ovaries and placenta , crosses the cell membrane of the recipient cell, and is bound by the estrogen receptor in the cell's cytoplasm . The estrogen receptor then goes to the cell's nucleus and binds to its DNA-binding sites , changing the transcriptional regulation of the associated genes. Not only do transcription factors act downstream of signaling cascades related to biological stimuli but they can also be downstream of signaling cascades involved in environmental stimuli. Examples include heat shock factor (HSF), which upregulates genes necessary for survival at higher temperatures, hypoxia inducible factor (HIF), which upregulates genes necessary for cell survival in low-oxygen environments, and sterol regulatory element binding protein (SREBP), which helps maintain proper lipid levels in
4646-566: The genomic level, DNA- sequencing and database research are commonly used. The protein version of the transcription factor is detectable by using specific antibodies . The sample is detected on a western blot . By using electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA), the activation profile of transcription factors can be detected. A multiplex approach for activation profiling is a TF chip system where several different transcription factors can be detected in parallel. The most commonly used method for identifying transcription factor binding sites
4747-770: The large T antigen of Polyomavirus , the E7 protein of Human papillomavirus (HPV), and the B18R protein of vaccinia virus . Reducing IFN-α activity may prevent signaling via STAT1 , STAT2 , or IRF9 (as with JEV infection) or through the JAK-STAT pathway (as with DEN-2 infection). Several poxviruses encode soluble IFN receptor homologs—like the B18R protein of the vaccinia virus—that bind to and prevent IFN interacting with its cellular receptor, impeding communication between this cytokine and its target cells. Some viruses can encode proteins that bind to double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) to prevent
4848-427: The preinitiation complex and RNA polymerase . Thus, for a single transcription factor to initiate transcription, all of these other proteins must also be present, and the transcription factor must be in a state where it can bind to them if necessary. Cofactors are proteins that modulate the effects of transcription factors. Cofactors are interchangeable between specific gene promoters; the protein complex that occupies
4949-456: The sequence similarity and hence the tertiary structure of their DNA-binding domains. The following classification is based of the 3D structure of their DBD and the way it contacts DNA. It was first developed for Human TF and later extended to rodents and also to plants. There are numerous databases cataloging information about transcription factors, but their scope and utility vary dramatically. Some may contain only information about
5050-570: The CSN5-containing COP9 signalosome (CSN), a highly conserved multiprotein complex implicated in protein deneddylation, deubiquitination, and phosphorylation. RIG-G has shown the capacity to inhibit NF-κB and STAT3 signaling in lung cancer cells, which demonstrates the potential of type I IFNs. Many viruses have evolved mechanisms to resist interferon activity. They circumvent the IFN response by blocking downstream signaling events that occur after
5151-431: The DNA binding specificities of the single-copy Leafy transcription factor, which occurs in most land plants, have recently been elucidated. In that respect, a single-copy transcription factor can undergo a change of specificity through a promiscuous intermediate without losing function. Similar mechanisms have been proposed in the context of all alternative phylogenetic hypotheses, and the role of transcription factors in
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#17331162254665252-411: The DNA of its own gene, it down-regulates the production of more of itself. This is one mechanism to maintain low levels of a transcription factor in a cell. In eukaryotes , transcription factors (like most proteins) are transcribed in the nucleus but are then translated in the cell's cytoplasm . Many proteins that are active in the nucleus contain nuclear localization signals that direct them to
5353-430: The DNA sequence is long enough. It is unlikely, however, that a transcription factor will bind all compatible sequences in the genome of the cell . Other constraints, such as DNA accessibility in the cell or availability of cofactors may also help dictate where a transcription factor will actually bind. Thus, given the genome sequence, it is still difficult to predict where a transcription factor will actually bind in
5454-512: The Finnish Blood Bank. Large amounts of human beta interferon were made by superinducing the beta interferon gene in human fibroblast cells. Cantell's and Tan's methods of making large amounts of natural interferon were critical for chemical characterisation, clinical trials and the preparation of small amounts of interferon messenger RNA to clone the human alpha and beta interferon genes. The superinduced human beta interferon messenger RNA
5555-501: The Jak kinases TYK2 and JAK1 and also STAT1 and STAT2. STAT molecules form dimers and bind to ISGF3G/IRF-9, which is Interferon stimulated gene factor 3 complex with Interferon regulatory Factor 9. This allows STAT1 to enter the nucleus. STAT1 has a key role in many gene expressions that cause survival of the cell, viability or pathogen response. There are two possible transcripts (due to alternative splicing) that encode 2 isoforms of STAT1. STAT1α,
5656-535: The Th17 polarization of the immune response. Patients with STAT1 gain of function mutation and CMC poorly or not at all respond to treatment with azole drugs such as Fluconazole , Itraconazole or Posaconazole . Besides common viral and bacterial infections, these patients develop autoimmunities or even carcinomas. It is very complicated to find a treatment because of various symptoms and resistances, inhibitors of JAK/STAT pathway such as Ruxolitinib are being tested and are
5757-494: The ability to antagonize the IFN response, contributing to viral pathogenesis and viral diseases. IFNs also have various other functions: they activate immune cells , such as natural killer cells and macrophages , and they increase host defenses by up-regulating antigen presentation by virtue of increasing the expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigens . Certain symptoms of infections, such as fever , muscle pain and "flu-like symptoms", are also caused by
5858-427: The activity of RNA-dependent protein kinases ; this is the mechanism reovirus adopts using its sigma 3 (σ3) protein, and vaccinia virus employs using the gene product of its E3L gene, p25. The ability of interferon to induce protein production from interferon stimulated genes (ISGs) can also be affected. Production of protein kinase R , for example, can be disrupted in cells infected with JEV. Some viruses escape
5959-512: The actual proteins, some about their binding sites, or about their target genes. Examples include the following: Interferons IFNs belong to the large class of proteins known as cytokines , molecules used for communication between cells to trigger the protective defenses of the immune system that help eradicate pathogens. Interferons are named for their ability to "interfere" with viral replication by protecting cells from virus infections . However, virus-encoded genetic elements have
6060-467: The adjacent gene is either up- or down-regulated . Transcription factors use a variety of mechanisms for the regulation of gene expression. These mechanisms include: Transcription factors are one of the groups of proteins that read and interpret the genetic "blueprint" in the DNA. They bind to the DNA and help initiate a program of increased or decreased gene transcription. As such, they are vital for many important cellular processes. Below are some of
6161-588: The anti-viral activities of interferons by gene (and thus protein) mutation. The H5N1 influenza virus, also known as bird flu, has resistance to interferon and other anti-viral cytokines that is attributed to a single amino acid change in its Non-Structural Protein 1 (NS1), although the precise mechanism of how this confers immunity is unclear. The relative resistance of hepatitis C virus genotype I to interferon-based therapy has been attributed in part to homology between viral envelope protein E2 and host protein kinase R,
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#17331162254666262-411: The binding of 5mC-binding proteins including MECP2 and MBD ( Methyl-CpG-binding domain ) proteins, facilitating nucleosome remodeling and the binding of transcription factors, thereby activating transcription of those genes. EGR1 is an important transcription factor in memory formation. It has an essential role in brain neuron epigenetic reprogramming. The transcription factor EGR1 recruits
6363-456: The cell, such as a hormone . There are approximately 1600 TFs in the human genome . Transcription factors are members of the proteome as well as regulome . TFs work alone or with other proteins in a complex, by promoting (as an activator ), or blocking (as a repressor ) the recruitment of RNA polymerase (the enzyme that performs the transcription of genetic information from DNA to RNA) to specific genes. A defining feature of TFs
6464-447: The cell. Many transcription factors, especially some that are proto-oncogenes or tumor suppressors , help regulate the cell cycle and as such determine how large a cell will get and when it can divide into two daughter cells. One example is the Myc oncogene, which has important roles in cell growth and apoptosis . Transcription factors can also be used to alter gene expression in
6565-408: The combinatorial use of a subset of the approximately 2000 human transcription factors easily accounts for the unique regulation of each gene in the human genome during development . Transcription factors bind to either enhancer or promoter regions of DNA adjacent to the genes that they regulate based on recognizing specific DNA motifs. Depending on the transcription factor, the transcription of
6666-548: The cytokine binds to its receptor, by preventing further IFN production, and by inhibiting the functions of proteins that are induced by IFN. Viruses that inhibit IFN signaling include Japanese Encephalitis Virus (JEV), dengue type 2 virus (DEN-2), and viruses of the herpesvirus family, such as human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV or HHV8). Viral proteins proven to affect IFN signaling include EBV nuclear antigen 1 (EBNA1) and EBV nuclear antigen 2 (EBNA-2) from Epstein-Barr virus ,
6767-632: The cytoplasmic receptors RIG-I or MDA5 , can trigger release of IFNs. Toll Like Receptor 3 ( TLR3 ) is important for inducing interferons in response to the presence of double-stranded RNA viruses ; the ligand for this receptor is double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) . After binding dsRNA, this receptor activates the transcription factors IRF3 and NF-κB , which are important for initiating synthesis of many inflammatory proteins. RNA interference technology tools such as siRNA or vector-based reagents can either silence or stimulate interferon pathways. Release of IFN from cells (specifically IFN-γ in lymphoid cells)
6868-647: The evolution of all species. The transcription factors have a role in resistance activity which is important for successful biocontrol activity. The resistant to oxidative stress and alkaline pH sensing were contributed from the transcription factor Yap1 and Rim101 of the Papiliotrema terrestris LS28 as molecular tools revealed an understanding of the genetic mechanisms underlying the biocontrol activity which supports disease management programs based on biological and integrated control. There are different technologies available to analyze transcription factors. On
6969-458: The expression of certain immune system genes. Some STATs are activated by both type I and type II IFNs. However each IFN type can also activate unique STATs. STAT activation initiates the most well-defined cell signaling pathway for all IFNs, the classical Janus kinase -STAT ( JAK-STAT ) signaling pathway. In this pathway, JAKs associate with IFN receptors and, following receptor engagement with IFN, phosphorylate both STAT1 and STAT2 . As
7070-437: The first amino acid, sugar composition and N-terminal analyses. They showed that human beta interferon was an unusually hydrophobic glycoprotein. This explained the large loss of interferon activity when preparations were transferred from test tube to test tube or from vessel to vessel during purification. The analyses showed the reality of interferon activity by chemical verification. The purification of human alpha interferon
7171-622: The full-length version of the protein, is the main active isoform, responsible for most of the known functions of STAT1. STAT1ß, which lacks a portion of the C-terminus of the protein, is less-studied, but has variously been reported to negatively regulate activation of STAT1 or to mediate IFN-γ-dependent anti-tumor and anti-infection activities. STAT1 is involved in upregulating genes due to a signal by either type I , type II , or type III interferons . In response to IFN-γ stimulation, STAT1 forms homodimers or heterodimers with STAT3 that bind to
7272-535: The gene that they regulate. Other transcription factors differentially regulate the expression of various genes by binding to enhancer regions of DNA adjacent to regulated genes. These transcription factors are critical to making sure that genes are expressed in the right cell at the right time and in the right amount, depending on the changing requirements of the organism. Many transcription factors in multicellular organisms are involved in development. Responding to stimuli, these transcription factors turn on/off
7373-469: The gene. The DNA binding sites of 519 transcription factors were evaluated. Of these, 169 transcription factors (33%) did not have CpG dinucleotides in their binding sites, and 33 transcription factors (6%) could bind to a CpG-containing motif but did not display a preference for a binding site with either a methylated or unmethylated CpG. There were 117 transcription factors (23%) that were inhibited from binding to their binding sequence if it contained
7474-457: The immune response. Expression of type I and III IFNs can be induced in virtually all cell types upon recognition of viral components, especially nucleic acids, by cytoplasmic and endosomal receptors, whereas type II interferon is induced by cytokines such as IL-12, and its expression is restricted to immune cells such as T cells and NK cells . All interferons share several common effects: they are antiviral agents and they modulate functions of
7575-525: The immune system. Administration of Type I IFN has been shown experimentally to inhibit tumor growth in animals, but the beneficial action in human tumors has not been widely documented. A virus-infected cell releases viral particles that can infect nearby cells. However, the infected cell can protect neighboring cells against a potential infection of the virus by releasing interferons. In response to interferon, cells produce large amounts of an enzyme known as protein kinase R (PKR). This enzyme phosphorylates
7676-591: The immunoproteasome processes these peptides for loading onto the MHC I molecule, thereby increasing the recognition and killing of infected or malignant cells. Higher MHC II expression increases presentation of these peptides to helper T cells ; these cells release cytokines (such as more interferons and interleukins , among others) that signal to and co-ordinate the activity of other immune cells. Interferons can also suppress angiogenesis by down regulation of angiogenic stimuli deriving from tumor cells. They also suppress
7777-594: The important functions and biological roles transcription factors are involved in: In eukaryotes , an important class of transcription factors called general transcription factors (GTFs) are necessary for transcription to occur. Many of these GTFs do not actually bind DNA, but rather are part of the large transcription preinitiation complex that interacts with RNA polymerase directly. The most common GTFs are TFIIA , TFIIB , TFIID (see also TATA binding protein ), TFIIE , TFIIF , and TFIIH . The preinitiation complex binds to promoter regions of DNA upstream to
7878-464: The interferon action gene and interferon gene reside in different human chromosomes. The purification of human beta interferon did not occur until 1977. Y.H. Tan and his co-workers purified and produced biologically active, radio-labeled human beta interferon by superinducing the interferon gene in fibroblast cells, and they showed its active site contains tyrosine residues. Tan's laboratory isolated sufficient amounts of human beta interferon to perform
7979-640: The literature. Furthermore, others may have made observations on interferons before the 1957 publication of Isaacs and Lindenmann. For example, during research to produce a more efficient vaccine for smallpox , Yasu-ichi Nagano and Yasuhiko Kojima—two Japanese virologists working at the Institute for Infectious Diseases at the University of Tokyo —noticed inhibition of viral growth in an area of rabbit-skin or testis previously inoculated with UV-inactivated virus. They hypothesised that some "viral inhibitory factor"
8080-546: The muscle or under the skin is generally well tolerated. The most frequent adverse effects are flu-like symptoms: increased body temperature, feeling ill, fatigue, headache, muscle pain, convulsion, dizziness, hair thinning, and depression. Erythema , pain, and hardness at the site of injection are also frequently observed. IFN therapy causes immunosuppression , in particular through neutropenia and can result in some infections manifesting in unusual ways. Several different types of interferons are approved for use in humans. One
8181-432: The nature of these chemical interactions, most transcription factors bind DNA in a sequence specific manner. However, not all bases in the transcription factor-binding site may actually interact with the transcription factor. In addition, some of these interactions may be weaker than others. Thus, transcription factors do not bind just one sequence but are capable of binding a subset of closely related sequences, each with
8282-530: The nucleosome should be actively unwound by molecular motors such as chromatin remodelers . Alternatively, the nucleosome can be partially unwrapped by thermal fluctuations, allowing temporary access to the transcription factor binding site. In many cases, a transcription factor needs to compete for binding to its DNA binding site with other transcription factors and histones or non-histone chromatin proteins. Pairs of transcription factors and other proteins can play antagonistic roles (activator versus repressor) in
8383-415: The nucleus. But, for many transcription factors, this is a key point in their regulation. Important classes of transcription factors such as some nuclear receptors must first bind a ligand while in the cytoplasm before they can relocate to the nucleus. Transcription factors may be activated (or deactivated) through their signal-sensing domain by a number of mechanisms including: In eukaryotes, DNA
8484-749: The pathogenic inflammation ( cytokine storm ) seen in later stages of COVID-19 disease. Application of IFN-I prior to (or in the very early stages of) viral infection can be protective, which should be validated in randomized clinical trials. With pegylated IFN lambda, the relative risk for hospitalization with the Omicron strains is reduced by about 80 %. Interferon beta-1a and interferon beta-1b are used to treat and control multiple sclerosis , an autoimmune disorder . This treatment may help in reducing attacks in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis and slowing disease progression and activity in secondary progressive multiple sclerosis. Interferon therapy
8585-758: The presence of a GAS element. In addition to the JAK-STAT pathway, IFNs can activate several other signaling cascades. For instance, both type I and type II IFNs activate a member of the CRK family of adaptor proteins called CRKL , a nuclear adaptor for STAT5 that also regulates signaling through the C3G / Rap1 pathway. Type I IFNs further activate p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAP kinase) to induce gene transcription. Antiviral and antiproliferative effects specific to type I IFNs result from p38 MAP kinase signaling. The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling pathway
8686-576: The production of IFNs and other cytokines . More than twenty distinct IFN genes and proteins have been identified in animals, including humans. They are typically divided among three classes: Type I IFN, Type II IFN, and Type III IFN. IFNs belonging to all three classes are important for fighting viral infections and for the regulation of the immune system. Based on the type of receptor through which they signal, human interferons have been classified into three major types. In general, type I and II interferons are responsible for regulating and activating
8787-666: The proliferation of endothelial cells. Such suppression causes a decrease in tumor angiogenesis, a decrease in its vascularization and subsequent growth inhibition. Interferons, such as interferon gamma , directly activate other immune cells, such as macrophages and natural killer cells . Production of interferons occurs mainly in response to microbes, such as viruses and bacteria, and their products. Binding of molecules uniquely found in microbes—viral glycoproteins , viral RNA , bacterial endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide), bacterial flagella , CpG motifs —by pattern recognition receptors , such as membrane bound toll like receptors or
8888-503: The promoter DNA and the amino acid sequence of the cofactor determine its spatial conformation. For example, certain steroid receptors can exchange cofactors with NF-κB , which is a switch between inflammation and cellular differentiation; thereby steroids can affect the inflammatory response and function of certain tissues. Transcription factors and methylated cytosines in DNA both have major roles in regulating gene expression. (Methylation of cytosine in DNA primarily occurs where cytosine
8989-509: The regulation of gene expression and are, as a consequence, found in all living organisms. The number of transcription factors found within an organism increases with genome size, and larger genomes tend to have more transcription factors per gene. There are approximately 2800 proteins in the human genome that contain DNA-binding domains, and 1600 of these are presumed to function as transcription factors, though other studies indicate it to be
9090-425: The regulation of the same gene . Most transcription factors do not work alone. Many large TF families form complex homotypic or heterotypic interactions through dimerization. For gene transcription to occur, a number of transcription factors must bind to DNA regulatory sequences. This collection of transcription factors, in turn, recruit intermediary proteins such as cofactors that allow efficient recruitment of
9191-460: The respiratory system and skin. In these patients we can also find viral infections caused mostly by Herpesviridae , that also affect the skin. The mycobacterial infections are often caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis or environmental bacteria. Very common are also autoimmune symptoms like type 1 diabetes , cytopenia, regression of the thymus or systemic lupus erythematosus . When T-cell deficient, these autoimmune díseases are very common. CMC
9292-447: The transcription of the appropriate genes, which, in turn, allows for changes in cell morphology or activities needed for cell fate determination and cellular differentiation . The Hox transcription factor family, for example, is important for proper body pattern formation in organisms as diverse as fruit flies to humans. Another example is the transcription factor encoded by the sex-determining region Y (SRY) gene, which plays
9393-495: The treatment of breast and prostate cancer , respectively, and various types of anti-inflammatory and anabolic steroids . In addition, transcription factors are often indirectly modulated by drugs through signaling cascades . It might be possible to directly target other less-explored transcription factors such as NF-κB with drugs. Transcription factors outside the nuclear receptor family are thought to be more difficult to target with small molecule therapeutics since it
9494-446: Was also reported as a common symptom in patients with hyper immunoglobulin E syndrome (hyper-IgE) and with autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type I. There was reported an interleukin 17A role, because of low levels of IL-17A producing T-cells in CMC patients. With various genomic and genetic methods was discovered, that a heterozygous gain of function mutation of STAT1 is a cause of more than
9595-538: Was discovered, which lead to parasital, viral and bacterial infections. The very first reported case of STAT1 deficiency in human was an autosomal dominant mutation and patients were showing propensity to mycobacterial infections. Another case reported was about an autosomal recessive form. 2 related patients had a homozygous missense STAT1 mutation which caused impaired splicing, therefore a defect in mature protein. Patients had partially damaged response to both IFNa and IFNg. Scientists now claim that recessive STAT1 deficiency
9696-460: Was encoded by a family of many related genes. The type II IFN (IFN-γ) gene was also isolated around this time. Interferon was first synthesized manually at Rockefeller University in the lab of Dr. Bruce Merrifield , using solid phase peptide synthesis , one amino acid at a time. He later won the Nobel Prize in chemistry. Interferon was scarce and expensive until 1980, when the interferon gene
9797-734: Was first approved for medical use in 1986. For example, in January 2001, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of PEGylated interferon-alpha in the USA; in this formulation, PEGylated interferon-alpha-2b ( Pegintron ), polyethylene glycol is linked to the interferon molecule to make the interferon last longer in the body. Approval for PEGylated interferon-alpha-2a ( Pegasys ) followed in October 2002. These PEGylated drugs are injected once weekly, rather than administering two or three times per week, as
9898-624: Was found in two unrelated patients with unexplained mycobacterial disease. This mutation caused a loss of GAF and ISGF3 activation but was dominant for one cellular phenotype and recessive for the other. It impaired the nuclear accumulation of GAF but not of ISGF3 in cells stimulated by interferons, implying that the antimycobacterial but not the antiviral effects of human interferons are mediated by GAF. More recently, two patients have been identified with homozygous STAT-1 mutations who developed both post–BCG vaccination disseminated disease and lethal viral infections. The mutations in these patients caused
9999-442: Was inserted into bacteria using recombinant DNA technology , allowing mass cultivation and purification from bacterial cultures or derived from yeasts . Interferon can also be produced by recombinant mammalian cells. Before the early 1970s, large scale production of human interferon had been pioneered by Kari Cantell. He produced large amounts of human alpha interferon from large quantities of human white blood cells collected by
10100-417: Was not reported until 1978. A series of publications from the laboratories of Sidney Pestka and Alan Waldman between 1978 and 1981, describe the purification of the type I interferons IFN-α and IFN-β. By the early 1980s, genes for these interferons had been cloned, adding further definitive proof that interferons were responsible for interfering with viral replication. Gene cloning also confirmed that IFN-α
10201-558: Was present in the tissues infected with virus and attempted to isolate and characterize this factor from tissue homogenates . Independently, Monto Ho, in John Enders 's lab, observed in 1957 that attenuated poliovirus conferred a species specific anti-viral effect in human amniotic cell cultures. They described these observations in a 1959 publication, naming the responsible factor viral inhibitory factor (VIF). It took another fifteen to twenty years, using somatic cell genetics, to show that
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