The role of interferon regulatory factors in atherosclerosis: from cell type-specific mechanisms to therapeutic strategies (opens in new tab)

Interferon regulatory factors (IRFs) constitute a family of transcription factors that orchestrate innate and adaptive immune responses, metabolic regulation, and cellular homeostasis. Emerging evidence demonstrates that IRF1–IRF9 play central immunometabolic roles in the formation, progression, and destabilization of atherosclerotic lesions. Pro-inflammatory IRFs, particularly IRF1, IRF3, IRF5, and IRF7, promote endothelial activation, M1 macrophage polarization, pyroptosis, impaired efferoc...