IRF7 and viral encephalitis: IFNβ was demonstrated to have a regulatory role in microglia; it was shown that microglia of mice deficient in IFN regulatory factor 7 (IRF7) or IFNAR exhibited increased expression of the C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 13 (CXCL13), in homeostasis, and to a greater extent, in response to viral encephalitis [96].