Interferon regulatory factor-1 (IRF-1) and IRF-2 have been identified as novel DNA-binding factors that function as regulators of both type I interferon (interferon-α and β) and interferon-inducible genes. The two factors are structurally related, particularly in their N-terminal regions, which confer DNA binding specificity. In addition, both bind to the same sequence within the promoters of interferon-α and interferon-β genes. IRF-1 functions as an activator of interferon transcription, while IRF-2 binds to the same cis elements and represses IRF-1 action. IRF-1 and IRF-2 have been reported to act in a mutually antagonistic manner in regulating cell growth; overexpression of the repressor IRF-2 leads to cell transformation while concomitant overexpression of IRF-1 causes reversion. IRF-1 and IRF-2 are members of a larger family of DNA binding proteins that includes IRF-3, IRF-4, IRF-5, IRF-6, IRF-7, ISGF-3γ p48 and IFN consensus sequence-binding protein (ICSBP).
