Interferon Regulatory Factor 2 (IRF2)

Interferon regulatory factor 2 isa member of the interferon regulatory transcription factor (IRF) family. IRF2 competitively inhibits the IRF1-mediated transcriptional activation of interferons alpha and beta, and presumably other genes that employ IRF1 for transcription activation. However, IRF2 also functions as a transcriptional activator of histone H4.

Harada et al. (1993) found that when the IRF2 gene was overexpressed in NIH 3T3 cells, the cells became transformed and displayed enhanced tumorigenicity in nude mice. This transformed phenotype was reversed by concomitant expression of the IRF1 gene. Thus, restrained cell growth depends on a balance between these 2 mutually antagonistic transcription factors.