The transcription factor interferon regulatory factor 1 is expressed after cerebral ischemia and contributes to ischemic brain injury. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • The transcription factor interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF-1) is involved in the molecular mechanisms of inflammation and apoptosis, processes that contribute to ischemic brain injury. In this study, the induction of IRF-1 in response to cerebral ischemia and its role in ischemic brain injury were investigated. IRF-1 gene expression was markedly upregulated within 12 h of occlusion of the middle cerebral artery in C57BL/6 mice. The expression reached a peak 4 d after ischemia (6.0 +/- 1.8-fold; P < 0.001) and was restricted to the ischemic regions of the brain. The volume of ischemic injury was reduced by 23 +/- 3% in IRF-1(+/-) and by 46 +/- 9% in IRF-1(-/-) mice (P < 0.05). The reduction in infarct volume was paralleled by a substantial attenuation in neurological deficits. Thus, IRF-1 is the first nuclear transacting factor demonstrated to contribute directly to cerebral ischemic damage and may be a novel therapeutic target in ischemic stroke.

publication date

  • February 15, 1999

Research

keywords

  • Brain Damage, Chronic
  • Brain Ischemia
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Phosphoproteins

Identity

PubMed Central ID

  • PMC2192924

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 0033557359

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1084/jem.189.4.719

PubMed ID

  • 9989987

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 189

issue

  • 4