Both IRF3 and especially IRF7 play a key role to orchestrate an effective cerebral inflammatory response in a mouse model of herpes simplex virus encephalitis.

The impact of a deficiency in interferon regulatory factor (IRF)3 and IRF7 was evaluated in an herpes simplex virus encephalitis (HSE) model. Compared to wild type (WT), the mortality rates of infected IRF3-/- and IRF7-/- mice were higher and associated with increased brain viral titers. At a critical time post-infection, IRF7-/- mice exhibited a deficit in IFN-ß production. At a later time point, levels of type I IFNs and cytokines were increased in brains of both deficient mice compared to WT. Our results suggest that IRF3, and especially IRF7, are important for an effective control of inflammatory responses during HSE.