Regulation of Murine Interferon Regulatory Factor Gene Expression in the Central Nervous System Determined by Multiprobe RNase Protection Assay

Despite a key role in the regulation of interferon (IFN) gene expression and in mediating many downstream actions of the IFNs, the regulation of IFN regulatory factor (IRF) gene expression in the normal and pathological central nervous system and, indeed, other tissues, is poorly defined. We sought to examine the expression and regulation of the IRF genes in a number of different murine models for immune- or virally induced central nervous system disease. Here, we describe the development of a multiprobe RNase protection assay that permits the simultaneous detection and quantification of IRF ribonucleic acid transcripts for multiple family members in murine cells and tissues.