NF45 (ILF2, nuclear factor of activated T cells 45 kDa) is a transcription factor that interacts with NF90 (ILF3, DRBP76) to regulate gene expression. NF45 and NF90 are proteins that belong to the double-stranded RNA-binding protein family and both are substrates for the dsRNA-activated protein kinase, PKR. The NF45/NF90 heterodimer is mainly involved in regulating IL-2 expression by binding to the antigen receptor response element (ARRE) target sequence of the IL-2 enhancer. In neuronal cells, the NF45/NF90 heterodimer can repress human rhinovirus type 2 replication by binding to a 5' untranslated region of the viral RNA that encodes the internal ribosome entry site (IRES).
