Role of Interferon Regulatory Factor-5 (IRF-5) in Solid and Haematological Malignancies

摘要

Interferon Regulatory Factor 5 (IRF-5), is a member of the Interferon Regulatory Factors (IRFs) family. IRF genes encode DNA-binding proteins which regulates the expression of genes involved in infection and immuno-stimulation. Recent studies showed that IRF-5 has tumor suppressor properties. Aim of our research was to gain more insights on the mechanisms responsible for tumourigenesis in two different tumors: thyroid carcinoma and chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML). In this study we investigated the expression of IRF-5 in CML and in thyroid carcinoma cell lines. Our preliminary results demonstrated that all the cell lines we tested, thyroid as well as CML express IRF-5. We are now investigating the functional role of IRF-5 expression.