Background：This gene encodes a member of the interferon regulatory factor （IRF） family, a group of transcription factors with diverse roles, including virus-mediated activation of interferon, and modulation of cell growth, differentiation, apoptosis, and immune system activity. Members of the IRF family are characterized by a conserved N-terminal DNA-binding domain containing tryptophan （W） repeats. Alternative promoter use and alternative splicing result in multiple transcript variants, and a 30-nt indel polymorphism （SNP rs60344245） can result in loss of a 10-aa segment.
