Expression pattern of the interferon regulatory factor family members in influenza virus induced local and systemic inflammatory responses

Host Innate Antiviral Response to Influenza A Virus Infection: From Viral Sensing to Antagonism and Escape

Influenza virus possesses an RNA genome of single-stranded, negative-sensed, and segmented configuration. Influenza virus causes an acute respiratory disease, commonly known as the "flu" in humans. In some individuals, flu can lead to pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome. Influenza A virus (IAV) is the most significant because it causes recurring seasonal epidemics, occasional pandemics, and zoonotic outbreaks in human populations, globally. The host innate immune response to IAV infection plays a critical role in sensing, preventing, and clearing the infection as well as in flu disease pathology. Host cells sense IAV infection through multiple receptors and mechanisms, which culminate in the induction of a concerted innate antiviral response and the creation of an antiviral state, which inhibits and clears the infection from host cells. However, IAV antagonizes and escapes many steps of the innate antiviral response by different mechanisms. Herein, we review those host and viral mechanisms. This review covers most aspects of the host innate immune response, i.e., (1) the sensing of incoming virus particles, (2) the activation of downstream innate antiviral signaling pathways, (3) the expression of interferon-stimulated genes, (4) and viral antagonism and escape.

The interferon regulatory factor 6 promotes cisplatin sensitivity in colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignancies and causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Cell proliferation and tumor metastasis as well as chemoresistance are correlated with poor survival of CRC. The interferon regulatory factor 6 (IRF6) is functioned as a tumor suppressor gene in several cancers and is associated with risk of CRC. We explored the role of IRF6 in CRC in the present study. The protein expressions of IRF6 in human CRC tissues, normal para-carcinoma tissue and liver metastases from CRC were measured. Cell proliferation, chemotherapeutic sensitivity, cell apoptosis, migration and invasion including the related markers along with IRF6 expression were explored. Our results indicated that IRF6 expression in CRC and liver metastasis were lower than normal tissues, which were correlated positively with E-cadherin and negatively with Ki67 expression in CRC tissue. IRF6 promoted CRC cell sensitivity to cisplatin to suppress cell proliferation, migration and invasion as well as aggravate cell apoptosis. Our study suggested that IRF6 may enhance chemotherapeutic sensitivity of cisplatin mediated by affecting cell proliferation, migration and invasion along with apoptosis through regulating E-cadherin and Ki67, while the identified molecular mechanisms remain to be further explored.

Application of the CRISPR/Cas9 System to Study Regulation Pathways of the Cellular Immune Response to Influenza Virus

Influenza A virus (IAV) causes a respiratory infection that affects millions of people of different age groups and can lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome. Currently, host genes, receptors, and other cellular components critical for IAV replication are actively studied. One of the most convenient and accessible genome-editing tools to facilitate these studies is the CRISPR/Cas9 system. This tool allows for regulating the expression of both viral and host cell genes to enhance or impair viral entry and replication. This review considers the effect of the genome editing system on specific target genes in cells (human and chicken) in terms of subsequent changes in the influenza virus life cycle and the efficiency of virus particle production.