{
  "abstract": "Macrophageexhibit remarkable functional plasticity and adopt M1-like pro-inflammatory or M2-like anti-inflammatory/pro-resolving states in response to microenvironmental stimuli. Notably, this binary functional classification originates largely from in-vitro experimental systems; tissue-resident macrophages in vivo display a continuous spectrum of activation phenotypes rather than discrete subsets. Dysregulated macrophage polarization drives the pathogenesis of infectious diseases, malignancies, and metabolic-inflammatory disorders. Interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF1) is a pivotal transcription factor governing macrophage fate, yet its multilayered regulatory circuits and context-dependent dual impacts on M1-like and M2-like transcriptional programs remain to be systematically summarized. This review synthesizes recent advances in IRF1-centered regulatory networks of macrophage polarization. We recapitulate IRF1 crosstalk with core signaling cascades including JAK/STAT, TLR/MyD88 and IFN-γ pathways, as well as its transcriptional control of target genes such as iNOS, IL-12, and CXCL10. Multi-layer regulatory mechanisms modulating IRF1 activity are outlined, including transcriptional, epigenetic, non-coding-RNA-mediated post-transcriptional, and post-translational modifications. We further dissect IRF1-linked immunometabolic reprogramming and epigenetic remodeling, and describe its versatile pathophysiological roles in infection, cancer and metabolic inflammatory diseases based on multi-omics and single-cell sequencing evidence. Collectively, this review illustrates IRF1 as a key transcriptional node that orchestrates macrophage polarization, and highlights prospective therapeutic targets and intervention strategies for IRF1-associated immune-mediated disorders.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The First Hospital of China Medical University"
  ],
  "article_type": "review article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 6,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Shuqi Cao"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Shuang Feng"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Yue Gao"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Zhiyuan Sun"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Shiyao Bai"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Xinming Su"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/7n1n3gvyhhtjk.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.3389/fimmu.2026.1884705",
  "fulltext_url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13732450/",
  "id": "7n1n3gvyhhtjk",
  "issns": [
    "1664-3224"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2026.1884705/full",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "heading",
      "Review"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2403|Immune cells in cancer"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7223154592",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2026.1884705/pdf",
  "pmcid": "PMC13732450",
  "pmid": "42985020",
  "published": "2026-10-21",
  "publisher": "Frontiers Media SA",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/7n1n3gvyhhtjk.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:19:17Z",
      "native_id": "10.3389/fimmu.2026.1884705",
      "source": "crossref",
      "url": "https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2026.1884705/full"
    },
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-08T12:22:26Z",
      "native_id": "PMC13732450",
      "source": "pmc",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2026.1884705"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "openalex:2403|Immune cells in cancer",
      "subfield": "immunology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Interferon regulatory factor 1: a key transcriptional node orchestrating macrophage polarization: mechanisms and therapeutic potential",
  "title_text": "Interferon regulatory factor 1: a key transcriptional node orchestrating macrophage polarization: mechanisms and therapeutic potential",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-08T12:22:26Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/7n1n3gvyhhtjk",
  "venue": "Frontiers in Immunology",
  "versions": []
}