IRF7 is a key transcriptional factor involved in the signaling pathway leading to establishment of antiviral state in infected cells. Under normal conditions, IRF7 exists in a latent form in the cytoplasm. Viral infection triggers the phosphorylation of IRF7 C-terminal region. The activated IRF7 migrates to the nucleus leading to the transcriptional activation of the IFN-alpha and IFN-beta genes. IRF7 is predominantly expressed in the spleen, thymus and primary blood lymphocytes(PBL) as a lymphoid-specific factor.
