XAF1 and infection: Further research found that DENV2 induces ECs apoptosis through XIAP-associated factor 1 (XAF1)-dependent pathway, XAF1 is one of the interferon-inducing genes, it upregulates caspase-3 36 h after infection and mediates cell apoptosis (Long et al., 2013; Huang et al., 2014).