Finding a fairy in the forest: ELF4, a novel and critical element of type Ⅰ interferon responses

摘要

Type Ⅰ interferon (IFN) production is a key event during innate immune responses.This early and prompt mechanism is mediated by multiple factors that involve various pattern recognition receptors (PRRs),adaptor proteins,kinases and transcription factors.Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) is an important transmembrane adaptor protein that plays a role in the activation of downstream transcription factors,such as IFN regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 6,via TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1),which has been considered the main innate immune defense weaponry against viruses and intracellular pathogens.