Identification of a Novel repressor on IFN-lambda promoter and siRNA against ZEB1 and BLIMP-1 to increase IFN-lambda gene activity

A method for identifying a compound that activates or inhibits IFN-λ1 promoter activity, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing an IFN-λ1 promoter construct fused with a reporter gene, wherein said IFN-λ1 promoter construct is at least one promoter construct selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO:
• 1, SEQ ID NO:
• 2, SEQ ID NO:
• 3, SEQ ID NO:
• 4, SEQ ID NO:
• 5, SEQ ID NO:
• 6, or SEQ ID NO:
• 7;
• (b) transfecting a mammalian cell with said IFN-λ1 promoter construct;
• (c) screening a compound with said transfected cell by:
• (a′) exposing said compound to said transfected cell;
• and
• (b′) determining said reporter gene activity of said transfected cell, wherein a change in said reporter gene activity is indicative of an activating or inhibitory activity of said compound towards said IFN-λ1 promoter activity.