Although the transcription factors IRF-3 and IRF-7 are considered master regulators of type I interferon (IFN) induction and IFN stimulated gene (ISG) expression, Irf3(-/-)×Irf7(-/-) double knockout (DKO) myeloid dendritic cells (mDC) produce relatively normal levels of IFN-β after viral infection. We generated Irf3(-/-)×Irf5(-/-)×Irf7(-/-) triple knockout (TKO) mice to test whether IRF-5 was t...

BACKGROUND Impaired renal function is a marker of poor prognosis in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The aim of the study was to assess the incidence and independent predictors of stroke in population of patients with AMI treated invasively and concomitant impaired renal function (IRF). METHODS We analyzed 2,520 consecutive AMI patients admitted to our Center between 2003 and ...

In mouse and human, precursors of NK cell lineage home to decidualizing uteri. To assess the requirement for IL-15, an essential cytokine for NK differentiation in lymphoid tissue, on uterine NK (uNK) cell differentiation, implantation sites from IL-15(-/-) mice were analyzed histologically. IL-15(-/-) implantation sites had no uNK cells, no spiral-artery modification, and lacked the decidual i...

NKT cells are remarkably abundant in mouse liver. Compelling experimental evidence has suggested that NKT cells are involved in the pathogenesis of many liver diseases. Activation of NKT cells with alpha-galactosylceramide (alpha-GalCer) causes liver injury through mechanisms that are not well understood. We undertook studies to characterize the key pathways involved in alpha-GalCer-induced liv...

Members of the IFN regulatory factors (IRFs) family are transcriptional regulators that play essential roles in the homeostasis and function of the immune system. Recent studies indicate a direct involvement of some members of the family in the development of different subsets of dendritic cells (DC). Here, we report that IRF-1 is a potent modulator of the development and functional maturation ...

In contrast to conventional T cells, natural killer (NK) 1.1+ T cell receptor (TCR)-alpha/beta+ (NK1+T) cells, NK cells, and intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) bearing CD8-alpha/alpha chains constitutively express the interleukin (IL)-2 receptor (R)beta/15Rbeta chain. Recent studies have indicated that IL-2Rbeta/15Rbeta chain is required for the development of these lymphocyte subset...

Interleukin-12 (IL-12) is a heterodimeric cytokine produced by dendritic cells (DCs) in response to Toll-like receptor (TLR) ligation. While the mechanisms regulating IL-12p40 chain gene expression are well characterized, molecular events involved in IL-12p35 chain gene activation remain to be clarified. Since IL-12p35 mRNA was induced in human DCs activated through TLR3 or TLR4 but not TLR2, w...

Onlangs vierde de Inspectie der Rijksfinanciën – beter bekend als ‘de IRF’ haar honderdjarig bestaan. In deze column staat Peter van Knaap stil bij het werk en werkwijze wakkere waakhond rijksfinanciën. Tegenwicht, tegenspraak maken integrale afwegingen: dat is waar volgens auteur om gaat streven naar doelmatige uitgaven.

Retroperitoneal fibrosis (RPF) is a rare, progressive disease characterized by chronic non specific inflammation of the retroperitoneum. Although the pathogenesis of idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis (IRF) remains unclear, IRF has been reported in association with autoimmune disorders. However, few cases of IRF associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have been reported. We experienced a rar...

IFN regulatory factor (IRF)-8 is a transcription factor important for the development and function of macrophages. It plays a critical role in the induction of cytokine genes, including IL-12p40. Immunopurification and mass spectrometry analysis found that IRF-8 interacted with Ro52 in murine macrophages upon IFN-gamma and TLR stimulation. Ro52 is an IFN-inducible protein of the tripartite moti...