Like TRIM21, the E3 ligase RAUL adds K48 linked ubiquitin chains to both IRF3 and IRF7 and ultimately acts as a brake on the system in response to viral infection (60).Therefore, whether IRF7, as a transcription factor, promotes or inhibits disease development by directly or indirectly regulating additional molecules deserves further exploration; whether IRF7, as an interferon regulator, functions independently of IFN-I or through IFN-II or IFN-III in inflammation, cancer and infection remains unclear. The gene discussed is TRIM21; the disease is infection.