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FLASH GENE
Symbol IRF4 contributors: mct - updated : 17-12-2014
HGNC name interferon regulatory factor 4
HGNC id 6119
Location 6p25.3      Physical location : 391.738 - 411.442
Synonym name
  • multiple myeloma oncogene 1
  • lymphocyte-specific interferon regulatory factor
  • Synonym symbol(s) LSIRF, MUM1
    DNA
    TYPE functioning gene
    STRUCTURE 19.69 kb     9 Exon(s)
    10 Kb 5' upstream gene genomic sequence study
    regulatory sequence Promoter
    text structure mutations in the distal and proximal sites of the GC-rich sequence resulted in 62 and 81% reductions in the IRF4 promoter activity, respectively
    MAPPING cloned Y linked N status confirmed
    RNA
    TRANSCRIPTS type messenger
    identificationnb exonstypebpproduct
    ProteinkDaAAspecific expressionYearPubmed
    9 - 5314 - 451 - 1999 10453013
    9 - 5329 - 450 - -
    EXPRESSION
    Type restricted
       expressed in (based on citations)
    organ(s)
    SystemOrgan level 1Organ level 2Organ level 3Organ level 4LevelPubmedSpeciesStageRna symbol
    Lymphoid/Immunelymph node   highly
     tonsils   highly
    Skin/Tegumentskin   highly
    tissue
    SystemTissueTissue level 1Tissue level 2LevelPubmedSpeciesStageRna symbol
    Lymphoid    
    cells
    SystemCellPubmedSpeciesStageRna symbol
    Lymphoid/Immunelymphocyte
    cell lineage
    cell lines
    fluid/secretion
    at STAGE
    PROTEIN
    PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
    STRUCTURE
    motifs/domains
  • N-terminal DNA-binding domain that recognizes GAAAnnGAAA motifs, but IRF4 only weakly binds DNA due to its C-terminal auto-inhibitory domain
  • a IRF association domain, essential for its tumor suppressor function (IAD), with a nuclear localization signal
  • HOMOLOGY
    Homologene
    FAMILY
  • growing family of IRF proteins
  • CATEGORY regulatory , transcription factor , protooncogene , signaling cytokine
    SUBCELLULAR LOCALIZATION     intracellular
    intracellular,cytoplasm,cytosolic
    intracellular,nucleus,chromatin/chromosome,nucleosome
    text
  • localizes in both the nucleus and the cytoplasm (PMID;
  • basic FUNCTION
  • controlling the B-cell proliferation and differentiation and proliferation of mitogen-activated T cells
  • with IRF8 are dichotomous regulators of transcription in macrophages
  • lymphoid-specific transcription factor that plays crucial roles in the development and the functions of immune cells
  • IRF4 and SLC24A4 loci are associated with human hair color and skin pigmentation
  • suppresses BCL6 transcription and regulates receptor editing, Ig class switching, and plasma cell differentiation
  • essential for the development of T helper 2 (Th2) and Th17 cells
  • central function in the development of Th9 cells (contribution of this T helper cell subset to the pathogenesis of asthma)
  • central regulator of T helper 2 (Th2) immune responses, and also has a major impact on innate immune cells
  • having a non-redundant role in shaping the phenotype of alternatively primed macrophages
  • PRDM1 and IRF4 jointly control the differentiation and function of effector regulatory T cells
  • functions as a tumor suppressor in the myeloid lineage and in early stages of B cell development
  • acts as an oncogene primarily through its transcription-regulation function
  • is a pleiotropic IRF family transcription factor with broad immunological actions
  • IRF4 was essential for the SMAD2/3-mediated IL9 promoter activation
  • CELLULAR PROCESS cell life, differentiation
    cell life, proliferation/growth
    nucleotide, transcription
    PHYSIOLOGICAL PROCESS
    PATHWAY
    metabolism
    signaling
    a component
    INTERACTION
    DNA binding to interferon stimulated response element (ISRE)
    RNA
    small molecule
    protein
  • regulates IL10 gene expression in CD4(+) T cells through differential nuclear translocation
  • IRF4 activates IL2 and IL4 promoters in cooperation with REL
  • suppresses BCR/ABL transformation by a novel cytoplasmic function involving its IAD domain
  • can signal via complexes containing ETS or AP1 motifs depending on the cellular context, thus indicating new approaches for modulating IRF4-dependent transcription
  • is transiently up-regulated during thymic development as cells undergo positive selection and ITK is required for optimal IRF4 expression
  • required to suppress EOMES expression following CD8+ T-Cell activation
  • cell & other
    REGULATION
    induced by ESR1 (Estrogen receptor signaling promotes dendritic cell differentiation by increasing expression of the transcription factor IRF4)
    Other post translationally regulated by FKBP4
    ASSOCIATED DISORDERS
    corresponding disease(s)
    Other morbid association(s)
    TypeGene ModificationChromosome rearrangementProtein expressionProtein Function
    tumoral   translocation    
    deregulated in multiple myeloma with translocation t(6;14)(p25;q32), in B cell non Hodkin lymphoma and diffuse large B cell lymphoma
    tumoral     --low  
    in HTLV.1 induced adult T cell leukemia phenotype
    tumoral     --over  
    in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia with unfavorable prognostic
    tumoral     --low  
    promoter methylation is a putative mechanism of down-regulated IRF4 expression in leukemia
    tumoral somatic mutation      
    recurrent heterozygous somatic mutation in the DNA-binding domain of IRF4 in chronic lymphocytic leukemia with a good prognosis
    constitutional     --over  
    of IRF4 expression in T cells requires the Tec family tyrosine kinase, ITK, and in turn, IRF4 suppresses the up-regulation of EOMES, following TCR stimulation ( :
    Susceptibility
  • to facial pigmented spots during aging
  • Variant & Polymorphism other
  • variants in IRF4, notably rs12203592, are associated with eye color, hair color, skin color, and freckling, and association of the rs12203592*C allele with melanoma on the trunk in case-control sets from Australia, the UK, and Sweden
  • genetic variations in IRF4, contribute to the acquired amount of facial pigmented spots during aging, through pathways independent of the basal melanin production
  • Candidate gene
    Marker
    Therapy target
    SystemTypeDisorderPubmed
    immunologyinflammatory 
    attractive target for the therapy of chronic intestinal inflammation (blocking IRF4 might be an interesting option to modulate inflammation in the advanced state of inflammation)
    ANIMAL & CELL MODELS