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Variants in the interferon regulatory factor 5 gene confer genetic risk for systemic lupus erythematosus in a Han Chinese population.

BACKGROUND: Interferon regulatory factor 5 (IRF5), integral to interferon signaling pathways, has been identified as a susceptibility locus for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Nevertheless, the relationship between IRF5 variants and SLE risk within the Han Chinese demographic remains inadequately characterized. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Genotyping of two functional single nucleotide variants (SNVs) in IRF5 was conducted in 167 individuals with SLE and 246 healthy controls utilizing sequence-specific primer polymerase chain reaction (PCR-SSP). Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests were employed to assess associations. RESULTS: The rs10954213 variant demonstrated a significant association with SLE susceptibility under the recessive model (GG vs. AG+AA, OR = 2.20, 95% CI: 1.30-3.75, p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.003, adjusted p [pc]&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.030) and homozygous model (GG vs. AA, OR = 2.43, 95% CI: 1.36-4.42, p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.003, pc = 0.032). Similarly, the rs2004640 variant was associated with an increased risk of SLE across allelic (T vs. G, OR = 1.66, 95% CI: 1.22-2.26, p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.001, pc = 0.011), dominant (TG+TT vs. GG, OR = 1.77, 95% CI: 1.19-2.63, p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.005, pc = 0.047), and homozygous models (TT vs. GG, OR = 3.72, 95% CI: 1.58-8.78, p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.002, pc = 0.016). Haplotype analysis identified protective haplotype HT1 (A/G, OR = 0.54, 95% CI: 0.41-0.73, p&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.001) and risk haplotype HT4 (G/T, OR = 2.51, 95% CI: 1.42-4.42, p&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.001). CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that IRF5 gene variants substantially modulate susceptibility to SLE in the Han Chinese population. They hold potential as biomarkers for evaluating SLE risk and offer valuable perspectives into disease pathogenesis.

Adult

Viral infection of cells within the tumor microenvironment mediates antitumor immunotherapy via selective TBK1-IRF3 signaling.

Activating intra-tumor innate immunity might enhance tumor immune&#xa0;surveillance. Virotherapy is proposed to achieve tumor cell killing, while indirectly activating innate immunity. Here, we report that recombinant poliovirus therapy primarily mediates antitumor immunotherapy via direct infection of non-malignant tumor microenvironment (TME) cells, independent of malignant cell lysis. Relative to other innate immune agonists, virotherapy provokes selective, TBK1-IRF3 driven innate inflammation that is associated with sustained type-I/III interferon (IFN) release. Despite priming equivalent antitumor T cell quantities, MDA5-orchestrated TBK1-IRF3 signaling, but not NF&#x3ba;B-polarized TLR activation, culminates in polyfunctional and Th1-differentiated antitumor T cell phenotypes. Recombinant type-I IFN increases tumor-localized T cell function, but does not mediate durable antitumor immunotherapy without concomitant pattern recognition receptor (PRR) signaling. Thus, virus-induced MDA5-TBK1-IRF3 signaling in the TME provides PRR-contextualized IFN responses that elicit functional antitumor T cell immunity. TBK1-IRF3 innate signal transduction stimulates eventual function and differentiation of tumor-infiltrating T cells.

Animals

Bunyamwera bunyavirus nonstructural protein NSs counteracts the induction of alpha/beta interferon.

Production of alpha/beta interferons (IFN-alpha/beta) in response to viral infection is one of the main defense mechanisms of the innate immune system. Many viruses therefore encode factors that subvert the IFN system to enhance their virulence. Bunyamwera virus (BUN) is the prototype of the Bunyaviridae family. By using reverse genetics, we previously produced a recombinant virus lacking the nonstructural protein NSs (BUNdelNSs) and showed that NSs is a nonessential gene product that contributes to viral pathogenesis. Here we demonstrate that BUNdelNSs is a strong inducer of IFN-alpha/beta, whereas in cells infected with the wild-type counterpart expressing NSs (wild-type BUN), neither IFN nor IFN mRNA could be detected. IFN induction by BUNdelNSs correlated with activation of NF-kappaB and was dependent on virally produced double-stranded RNA and on the IFN transcription factor IRF-3. Furthermore, both in cultured cells and in mice lacking a functional IFN-alpha/beta system, BUNdelNSs replicated to wild-type BUN levels, whereas in IFN-competent systems, wild-type BUN grew more efficiently. These results suggest that BUN NSs is an IFN induction antagonist that blocks the transcriptional activation of IFN-alpha/beta in order to increase the virulence of Bunyamwera virus.

Animals

ZNF593 regulates the cGAS-mediated innate immune response by attenuating cGAS-DNA binding.

The enzyme cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) is essential for detecting aberrantly located double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) from genomic, mitochondrial, and microbial origins. Through the synthesis of 2'3'-cGAMP, cGAS triggers the activation of the stimulator of interferon genes pathway, which initiates in vivo innate immune responses. Here, we identify zinc finger proteins ZNF593, which translocate from the nucleus to the cytoplasm after viral infection, as a negative regulator of antiviral type I IFN (IFN-I) production. ZNF593 directly binds to cGAS and suppresses its activation by inhibiting the cGAS-dsDNA interaction. ZNF593 deficiency increases IRF3 nuclear translocation and promotes DNA virus-triggered IFN production. Furthermore, ZNF593 deficiency promotes antiviral innate responses in vivo, improving survival rates in mice against HSV-1 infection. We further find that ZNF593 plays a protective role in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) pathology. Notably, replenishing ZNF593 effectively reduced IFN production in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of SLE patients or in the TMPD-induced murine SLE model. Our findings suggest that ZNF593 negatively regulates IFN-&#x3b2; signaling by targeting cGAS activation, providing new insights into the regulatory mechanisms for antiviral defenses and autoimmune diseases.

Nucleotidyltransferases

NAT10 is critical to block RNA sensing-induced IFN-&#x3b2; transactivation in viral infection.

UNLABELLED: Cells detect invading viruses and produce type I interferons (IFNs) to stimulate an innate antiviral effector response. However, IFN levels must be fine-tuned to achieve antiviral efficacy while limiting hyperinflammatory and tissue-damaging effects. Here, we report that NAT10, a histone and cytidine acetyltransferase, regulates the production of type I IFNs and RNA virus infections. Depletion of NAT10 increased the expression of IFN-&#x3b2; and IFN-stimulated genes, and correspondingly impaired viral replication. Mechanistically, NAT10 dynamically associated with the IFN-&#x3b2; promoter and also negatively regulated IRF3's chromatin associations through modulation of long noncoding RNAs that inhibit IRF3. Treatment of cells with Remodelin, a NAT10 inhibitor, similarly increased IFN-&#x3b2; expression and inhibited viral infections. Overall, our findings reveal NAT10 is a potential host-directed target for antiviral treatment via regulation of type I IFN. IMPORTANCE: Type I interferons (IFNs) signaling pathway is critical to cellular defense and innate immunity against evading pathogens, including viruses. However, induction of type I IFNs is fine-tuned to achieve the antiviral consequence while maintaining host cellular homeostasis. This paper presents a novel mechanism for the NAT10 protein to silence IFN-&#x3b2; induction through modulation of IRF3 activity at the promoter of IFN-&#x3b2;, and further demonstrates the therapeutic potential of the NAT10 inhibitor Remodelin to restrict viral infection while inducing IFN-&#x3b2;.

Interferon-beta

Development and Validation of a Prognostic Signature Based on Transcription Factors Associated with Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Endoplasmic reticulum stress (ER stress) plays a crucial role in influencing the malignant behaviors of various tumors. Targeting the expression or degradation of transcription factors (TFs) offers a promising avenue for cancer treatment. However, a detailed understanding of how ER stress affects TF function and their interactions remains limited. This study aims to develop a prognostic model and identify TFs associated with ER stress in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). METHODS: We obtained gene expression profiles and corresponding clinical data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). To develop a prognostic signature, we performed several analyses, including unsupervised clustering, enrichment analysis, immune infiltration assessment, as well as univariate, LASSO, and multivariate Cox regression analyses. Four transcription factors-STAT1, IRF6, NRF1, and RXRA-were incorporated into a risk model, which was subsequently validated using the GSE dataset. Additionally, we examined IRF6 through quantitative PCR, western blotting, flow cytometry, and immunohistochemistry in vitro using pancreatic cancer cell lines and a tissue microarray. RESULTS: The high-risk group identified by the model exhibited significant associations with immune cell infiltration and poorer survival outcomes, though there was no significant correlation with tumor purity (p = 0.19). Furthermore, IRF6 downregulation in vitro was found to inhibit pancreatic cancer cell proliferation and promote apoptosis. IRF6 depletion also increased the expression of key molecules involved in ER stress at both the transcriptional and translational levels. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed marked differences in IRF6 expression between tumor and adjacent non-tumor tissues (59.29&#xb1;29.88 vs. 95.22&#xb1;40.80, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: This study provides evidence that the constructed risk model can effectively predict prognosis in PDAC patients. Transcription factors related to ER stress, such as IRF6, show promise as both prognostic biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets for PDAC.

Humans

Rare epigenetic alterations are conserved across hematopoietic differentiation stages after mycobacterial infection.

Infection leads to durable cell-autonomous changes in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs), resulting in production of innate immune cells with heightened immunity. The mechanisms underlying this phenomenon, termed central trained immunity, remain poorly understood. We hypothesized that infection induces histone modifications leading to changes in chromatin accessibility that are conserved during differentiation from HSPCs to myeloid progenitors and monocytes. We conducted genome-wide surveillance of histone marks H3K27ac and H3K4me3 and chromatin accessibility in hematopoietic stem cells, multipotent progenitor 3, granulocyte-monocyte progenitors, and monocytes and macrophages of naive and Mycobacterium avium-infected mice. IFN signaling pathways and related transcription factor binding motifs including IRFs, NF-&#x3ba;B, and CEBP showed increased activating histone marks and chromatin accessibility across cell types. However, histone marks and increased chromatin accessibility were conserved at only a few loci, notably Irf1 and Gbp6. Knock out of IRF1 disrupted enhanced mitochondrial respiration and bacterial killing in human monocyte cell lines, while GBP6-KO monocyte cell lines showed dysregulated mitochondrial respiration. In summary, this study identifies IRF1 and GBP6 as 2 key loci at which infection-induced systemic inflammation leads to epigenetic changes that are conserved from HSPCs to downstream monocytes, providing a mechanistic avenue for central trained immunity.

Animals

Glucose modulates IRF6 transcription factor dimerization to enable epidermal differentiation.

Non-energetic roles for glucose are largely unclear, as is the interplay between transcription factors (TFs) and ubiquitous biomolecules. Metabolomic analyses uncovered elevation of intracellular glucose during differentiation of diverse cell types. Human and mouse tissue engineered with glucose sensors detected a glucose gradient that peaked in the outermost differentiated layers of the epidermis. Free glucose accumulation was essential for epidermal differentiation and required the SGLT1 glucose transporter. Glucose affinity chromatography uncovered glucose binding to diverse regulatory proteins, including the IRF6 TF. Direct glucose binding enabled IRF6 dimerization, DNA binding, genomic localization, and induction of IRF6 target genes, including essential pro-differentiation TFs GRHL1, GRHL3, HOPX, and PRDM1. These data identify a role for glucose as a gradient morphogen that modulates protein multimerization in cellular differentiation.

Cell Differentiation

A highly prevalent lupus risk haplotype increases IRF7-dependent induction of IFN-&#x3b1;, enhancing antiviral defense and exacerbating autoimmunity.

Genome-wide association studies have identified genetic polymorphisms at 11p15 associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus). Statistical fine mapping prioritizes a highly prevalent coding haplotype within IRF7. Analysis of ancient DNA confirms that this haplotype has persisted at high frequencies in the global population for millennia. The IRF7 risk haplotype is sufficient to increase nuclear localization of IRF7 and transcriptional activity downstream of pattern recognition receptor pathways. This risk haplotype increases IRF7 DNA-binding strength and alters IRF7 DNA sequence specificity, resulting in genotype-dependent increases in interferon-&#x3b1; production in numerous biological systems, including monocytes and airway epithelial cells. CRISPR engineering of the corresponding risk variant in mouse Irf7 results in both enhanced innate control of virus infection and increased autoantibody titers in a model of autoimmunity. Altogether, we establish a persistent and prominent IRF7 haplotype that amplifies IRF7 activity in a manner that has immunological risks and benefits.

ancient DNA

The R203M and D377Y mutations of the nucleocapsid protein promote SARS-CoV-2 infectivity by impairing RIG-I-mediated antiviral signaling.

The viral protein mutations can modify virus-host interactions during virus evolution, and thus alter the extent of infection or pathogenicity. Studies indicate that nucleocapsid (N) protein of SARS-CoV-2 participates in viral genome assembly, intracellular signal regulation and immune interference. However, its biological function in viral evolution is not well understood. SARS-CoV-2&#x2009;N protein mutations were analyzed in Delta, Omicron, and original strains. Two mutations with a methionine (M) residue at site 203 and a tyrosine (Y) residue at site 377 of the N protein were found in Delta strain but not in Omicron and original strains, and promoted SARS-CoV-2 infection therein. Those mutations, R203M and D377Y, enhanced the inhibitory impact of N protein on the impairment of RIG-I-mediated antiviral signaling, such as IRF3 phosphorylation and IFN-&#x3b2; activation. The viral RNA-binding activity of N protein was promoted by these mutations, effectively attenuating the recognition and interaction of RIG-I with viral RNA compared to the original or other variants. The R203M/D377Y mutations thus enhanced the suppressive activity of the N protein on RIG-I-mediated interferon induction both in vitro and in vivo, which in turn promoted viral replication. This study helps to understand the variability of SARS-CoV-2 in regulating host immunity.

SARS-CoV-2

IL1B-centered immune dysregulation involving IL7R, CCR7, ITGB2 and IRF1 across insomnia and inflammatory bowel disease.

BACKGROUND: Insomnia is a prevalent sleep disorder that strongly affects one's quality of life and physical well-being. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory condition of the intestines, and a majority of IBD patients suffer from comorbid insomnia. However, the shared molecular features linking insomnia and IBD remain poorly characterized. METHODS: Common differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in datasets of insomnia (GSE208668) and IBD (GSE179285) using the Limma package. Functional enrichment was performed by Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network construction and hub gene identification was subsequently performed. Furthermore, we validated the reliability of the hub genes using qRT-PCR and Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In addition, we constructed a TF-miRNA regulatory network of hub genes and assessed the abundance of immune cell infiltration in insomnia and IBD using CIBERSORT, EPIC, and xCell algorithms. Finally, we utilized the DsigDB to predict potential therapeutic candidates. RESULTS: The analysis revealed 75 upregulated and 32 downregulated common DEGs. Functional enrichment analysis revealed the inflammatory response and immune activation as pivotal drivers underlying the pathogenesis of both insomnia and IBD. Five hub DEGs, namely, IL1B, IL7R, CCR7, ITGB2, and IRF1, were subsequently screened and validated. The TF-miRNA-mRNA regulatory network consisted of 5 TFs, 14 miRNA nodes and 5 core mRNA nodes. Immune cell infiltration analysis revealed several patterns shared between insomnia and IBD. Additionally, 10 potential therapeutic drugs for insomnia and IBD were proposed. CONCLUSION: Integrative coexpression network analysis reveals convergent dysregulation of an IL1B-centered immune module (comprising IL7R, CCR7, ITGB2, and IRF1) across insomnia and IBD, a shared immune disturbance and candidate targets for simultaneous intervention upon further mechanistic validation.

Humans

Kinetics of the induction of three translation-regulatory enzymes by interferon.

Three enzymes that cause inhibition of mRNA translation, eukaryotic initiation factor 2 protein kinase PK-i, oligoisoadenylate synthetase E, and phosphodiesterase 2'-PDi, have been recently isolated from interferon-treated cells. We show that the rise in these three enzyme activities may be used to study the response of uninfected cells to interferon. For each enzyme, a specific microassay that can be carried out on extracts from 2-5 x 10(4) monolayer cells from mouse, monkey, or man was developed. With these assays, the kinetics of induction of the three enzymes in mouse L cells are compared. The dose dependence for protein kinase PK-i induction is shown to be similar to that for the development of the antiviral state. Actinomycin D and anti-interferon serum block enzyme induction if added to the cells early after interferon treatment. The quantitative measurements of the intracellular level of these enzymes provide a new and convenient model to study the cell's response to interferon.

Adenine Nucleotides

Crosstalk mediators implicated in the Stevens-Johnson Syndrome through gene regulatory network analysis.

Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) is a rare and severe mucocutaneous disorder often triggered by medications or infections. Our previous research identified that four key genes, Ikzf1, Ptger3, Mavs, and Tlr3 are involved in SJS susceptibility and the conjunctival epithelial innate immune response, demonstrating their role in regulating interferon-stimulated genes. However, the interplay among these regulatory factors remains unclear. This study aimed to elucidate the crosstalk mechanisms between the pathways regulated by these four genes in conjunctival epithelial cells. We constructed a comprehensive gene regulatory network using transcriptomic data from murine conjunctival epithelial cells under 16 distinct conditions, including polyI:C stimulation across wild-type, knockout, and transgenic backgrounds for the key genes. A targeted network analysis systematically identified numerous candidate genes mediating the crosstalk between the regulatory pathways initiated by Ikzf1, Ptger3, Mavs, and Tlr3. The identified candidates suggest the involvement of diverse signaling pathways previously unlinked to SJS pathology. Our findings suggest that the pathogenesis of SJS may arise not from the dysfunction of isolated genes but from the disruption of a balance maintained by intricate pathway crosstalk.

Animals

A stromal platform for robust expansion of functional IL-10-producing B cells for immune regulation.

IL-10-producing B cells exert immunosuppressive effects, yet their low abundance and poor in vitro viability have limited their therapeutic application. Here, we developed a stromal coculture system using MS5 cells engineered to express human CD40L, BAFF, and IFN-&#x3b2;1 (MS5-3F, for "3 factors"), which enables robust induction and greater than 1000-fold expansion of human IL-10-producing B cells. The expanded cells showed phenotypic and transcriptional profiles characteristic of unswitched (IgM+) plasmablasts and potently suppressed CD4+ T cell proliferation in an IL-10-dependent manner. MS5-3F-expanded B cells also increased the frequency of regulatory T cells in vitro, an effect that was not abrogated by IL-10/IL-10R blockade, suggesting contributions from additional mechanisms. IL-10 production originated predominantly from naive B cells, rather than memory B cells. Furthermore, B cells from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, despite impaired IL-10 production under conventional conditions, were efficiently differentiated into IL-10-producing B cells using this system. The expanded cells showed minimal IgG-secreting output. Our platform offers a scalable strategy for generating human regulatory B cells, laying the foundation for B cell-based immunotherapies.

Humans

Participation of a histamine-Sepharose-adherent subpopulation of human mononuclear cells in the production of leucocyte migration inhibition factor (LIF) in healthy children.

The separation of mouse splenic T lymphocytes into distinct subpopulations by fractionation on histamine-rabbit serum albumin Sepharose (H-RSAS) columns has been described. The H-RSAS-adherent T cells have been attributed regulatory functions associated with B cell activity, T cell-mediated cytotoxicity and the secretion of mediators such as immuno-interferon. The possibility that H-RSAS-adherent T cells exert a similar regulatory effect on an in vitro parameter of T cell-mediated immunity was investigated by assaying the production of leucocyte migration inhibition factor (LIF) in human blood samples, using the agarose droplet method. Phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) and BCG-purified protein derivative (PPD) were used as stimulants of LIF secretion which was measured as a percentage of inhibition of linear leucocytic migration. In normal individuals a highly significant (P less than 0.001) decrease was demonstrated in the production of LIF by peripheral blood leucocytes depleted of H-RSAS-adherent cells. Migration inhibition dropped from 36 +/- 11.7% to 21.2 +/- 12.9% in eighteen cases tested with PHA and from 29.3 +/- 11.7% to 17.2 +/- 9.8% in twelve cases tested with PPD. These results suggest the existence of a lymphocytic subpopulation involved in LIF production which expresses histamine receptors.

Cell Adhesion

Selective targeting of TBXT with DARPins identifies regulatory networks and therapeutic vulnerabilities in chordoma.

The embryonic transcription factor TBXT (brachyury) drives chordoma, a spinal neoplasm without effective drug therapies. TBXT's regulatory network is poorly understood, and strategies to disrupt its activity for therapeutic purposes are lacking. We developed designed ankyrin repeat proteins that block TBXT-DNA binding (T-DARPins). In chordoma cells, T-DARPins reduced cell cycle progression, spheroid formation, and tumor growth in mice and induced signs of senescence and differentiation. Transcriptomic and proteomic analyses identified gene networks involved in cell cycle regulation, embryonic cell identity, and interferon response and revealed features of regulome components, such as susceptibility to pharmacologic inhibition and the fine-tuning of TBXT downstream effectors through IGFBP3. Finally, we found high interferon signaling in chordoma cell lines and patient tumors, which was promoted by TBXT and associated with sensitivity to JAK2 inhibitors. These findings demonstrate the potential of DARPins for probing nuclear proteins to understand the regulatory networks of transcription factor-driven cancers, including entry points for therapies that warrant testing in patients.

Humans

Co-regulation of type C RNA virus production and cell differentiation in myeloid leukemic cells.

Mouse myeloid leukemic cells which differ in their competence to be induced to differentiate by the normal macrophage- and granulocyte-inducing protein MGI have been used to study the relationship between type C RNA virus production and myeloid cell differentiation. Clones which can be induced by MGI to form Fc and C3 rosettes, to synthesize and secrete lysozyme and to differentiate to mature macrophages and granulocytes (MGI+D+) were induced by MGI to produce higher amounts of type C virus. Clones (MGI+D-) that were less inducible by MGI for Fc and C3 rosettes and lysozyme and were not induced to from mature cells were also less inducible higher virus production. In both types of clones, the increased virus production induced by MGI preceded the induction of rosettes and lysozyme. Clones that were not induced by MGI for rosettes or lysozyme (MGI-D-) showed little or no enhancement of virus production. MGI did not affect virus production in erythroleukemic cells, and erythropoietin did not affect virus production in the myeloid leukemic cells. Dexamethasone, lipopolysaccharide, dimethylsulfoxide and low concentrations of actinomycin D can induce some differentiation-associated properties in some of the clones. With these compounds, there was also a direct relationship between the enhancement of virus production and induction of differentiation-associated properties. Virus released from the three types of clones before or after treatment with MGI or dexamethasone was identified as N-tropic. The enhancement of virus production, as measured by reverse transcriptase activity, was accompanied by an increase in the amount of the viral protein p30, and interferon, which idd not inhibit the induction of differentiation in the myeloid leukemic cells, also did not prevent the increase in the amount of p30. After the early enhancement of virus production associated with the induction of differentiation, a shut-off of virus production occurred in the mature cells induced by MGI in MGI+D+ clones, whereas clones that did not differentiate to mature cells continued to produce virus. The results indicate that enhancement of virus production appears to be an early step in the induction of differentiation. Once induction has occurred, the lack of virus production in the mature cells suggest that a subsequent shut-off of virus production may be required for the completion of differentiation to mature cells. This relationship between cell differentiation and virus production suggests that type C virus has a regulatory role in myeloid cell differentiation.

Animals

Single-nucleotide transcription start sites profiling via Nascent Strand-Specific RNA sequencing uncovers IFN-&#x3b3;-induced promoter dynamics.

Transcriptional regulation is a highly dynamic process in which nascent RNAs provide the most immediate readout of transcriptional activity. Precise mapping of transcription start sites (TSSs) is therefore critical for understanding promoter architecture and gene regulation, yet remains technically challenging. Here, we introduce Nascent Strand-Specific RNA sequencing (NSS-seq), a robust and streamlined method for genome-wide profiling of the capped 5' ends of nascent RNAs. By directly capturing transcription initiation events, NSS-seq overcomes the temporal delay inherent to conventional RNA-seq and enables time-resolved interrogation of transcriptional dynamics. Applied to interferon-&#x3b3; (IFN-&#x3b3;)-stimulation, NSS-seq uncovers previously unrecognized IFN-&#x3b3;-responsive genes and transient transcription factor activation patterns underlying interferon-mediated tumor-suppressive functions. Together, NSS-seq provides a cost-effective and technically accessible platform for dissecting promoter-level regulatory dynamics during cellular responses.

Promoter Regions, Genetic