Interferons are also HIP
Type I interferons are innate immune cytokines that are required to establish cellular host defense. Cao et al. found that the kinase HIPK2, best known for its role as an activator of p53 during DNA damage, was necessary for resistance to viral infection and for type I interferon production in mice. Activated downstream of intracellular viral RNA recognition, HIPK2 interacted with and promoted the phosphorylation of the transcription factor ELF4, which is necessary for the transcription of Ifn-β. Nuclear translocation of the kinase and caspase-dependent cleavage of an autoinhibitory domain in HIPK2 were necessary for these effects. These data identify HIPK2 as a previously uncharacterized effector in the type I interferon cascade (see Focus by Best and Ponia).
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