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2026, Vol: 1, Issue: 1
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Original Research 


Differential Modulation of IRF1, IRF3 and IRF7 Gene Expression by an n-Hexane Fraction of a Polyherbal Formulation in Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells: An Exploratory In Vitro Study

Abubakar Babangida Usman, Kabir Magaji Hamid, Shuaibu Abdullahi Hudu, Abdulrazak Babangida Nuhu.


Abstract
Background: Interferon regulatory factors (IRFs) coordinate antiviral gene programmes, but the effects of non-polar polyherbal fractions on individual IRF pathways in primary human immune cells remain poorly defined. This exploratory study evaluated the effect of an n-hexane fraction of a polyherbal formulation on IRF1, IRF3 and IRF7 expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from HIV-negative donors.
Methods: PHA-stimulated PBMCs were cultured without treatment or with 50 µg/mL of the n-hexane fraction. Total RNA was extracted, reverse-transcribed and analysed by quantitative reverse-transcription PCR, using GAPDH as the reference gene and the 2^-ΔΔCt method for relative expression. The available dataset comprised four observations per group. Independent-samples t-tests were used, and Welch’s result was prioritised when variance homogeneity was violated.
Results: IRF1 expression decreased from 1.06 ± 0.05-fold in untreated cells to 0.50 ± 0.09-fold after treatment (52.7% reduction; p < 0.001). IRF3 increased from 1.06 ± 0.05-fold to 2.05 ± 0.63-fold (93.5% increase). The pooled-variance test yielded p = 0.021, but the variance-robust Welch test yielded p = 0.052. IRF7 changed from 1.06 ± 0.05-fold to 0.96 ± 0.62-fold and was not significant (Welch p = 0.763).
Conclusion: The n-hexane fraction produced a gene-specific transcriptional pattern characterised by marked IRF1 suppression, a large but statistically uncertain increase in IRF3 and no clear change in IRF7. These findings identify candidate immunomodulatory activity but do not establish antiviral efficacy. Larger donor-matched, dose-response and time-course studies with MIQE-compliant qPCR reporting, protein-level validation, cytotoxicity assessment and functional viral challenge are required.

Key words: Keywords: interferon regulatory factor; IRF1; IRF3; IRF7; innate antiviral immunity; PBMCs; polyherbal formulation; n-hexane fraction; RT-qPCR


 
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How to Cite this Article
Pubmed Style

Usman AB, Hamid KM, Hudu SA, Nuhu AB. Differential Modulation of IRF1, IRF3 and IRF7 Gene Expression by an n-Hexane Fraction of a Polyherbal Formulation in Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells: An Exploratory In Vitro Study. GMJ. 2026; 1(1): 64-73. doi:10.5455/GMJ.328908

Web Style

Usman AB, Hamid KM, Hudu SA, Nuhu AB. Differential Modulation of IRF1, IRF3 and IRF7 Gene Expression by an n-Hexane Fraction of a Polyherbal Formulation in Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells: An Exploratory In Vitro Study. https://www.gatemedjournal.org/?mno=328908 [Access: July 26, 2026]. doi:10.5455/GMJ.328908

AMA (American Medical Association) Style

Usman AB, Hamid KM, Hudu SA, Nuhu AB. Differential Modulation of IRF1, IRF3 and IRF7 Gene Expression by an n-Hexane Fraction of a Polyherbal Formulation in Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells: An Exploratory In Vitro Study. GMJ. 2026; 1(1): 64-73. doi:10.5455/GMJ.328908


Vancouver/ICMJE Style

Usman AB, Hamid KM, Hudu SA, Nuhu AB. Differential Modulation of IRF1, IRF3 and IRF7 Gene Expression by an n-Hexane Fraction of a Polyherbal Formulation in Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells: An Exploratory In Vitro Study. GMJ. (2026), [cited July 26, 2026]; 1(1): 64-73. doi:10.5455/GMJ.328908


Harvard Style

Usman, A. B., Hamid, . K. M., Hudu, . S. A. & Nuhu, . A. B. (2026) Differential Modulation of IRF1, IRF3 and IRF7 Gene Expression by an n-Hexane Fraction of a Polyherbal Formulation in Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells: An Exploratory In Vitro Study. GMJ, 1 (1), 64-73. doi:10.5455/GMJ.328908


Turabian Style

Usman, Abubakar Babangida, Kabir Magaji Hamid, Shuaibu Abdullahi Hudu, and Abdulrazak Babangida Nuhu. 2026. Differential Modulation of IRF1, IRF3 and IRF7 Gene Expression by an n-Hexane Fraction of a Polyherbal Formulation in Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells: An Exploratory In Vitro Study. Gateway Medical Journal, 1 (1), 64-73. doi:10.5455/GMJ.328908


Chicago Style

Usman, Abubakar Babangida, Kabir Magaji Hamid, Shuaibu Abdullahi Hudu, and Abdulrazak Babangida Nuhu. "Differential Modulation of IRF1, IRF3 and IRF7 Gene Expression by an n-Hexane Fraction of a Polyherbal Formulation in Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells: An Exploratory In Vitro Study." Gateway Medical Journal 1 (2026), 64-73. doi:10.5455/GMJ.328908


MLA (The Modern Language Association) Style

Usman, Abubakar Babangida, Kabir Magaji Hamid, Shuaibu Abdullahi Hudu, and Abdulrazak Babangida Nuhu. "Differential Modulation of IRF1, IRF3 and IRF7 Gene Expression by an n-Hexane Fraction of a Polyherbal Formulation in Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells: An Exploratory In Vitro Study." Gateway Medical Journal 1.1 (2026), 64-73. Print. doi:10.5455/GMJ.328908


APA (American Psychological Association) Style

Usman, A. B., Hamid, . K. M., Hudu, . S. A. & Nuhu, . A. B. (2026) Differential Modulation of IRF1, IRF3 and IRF7 Gene Expression by an n-Hexane Fraction of a Polyherbal Formulation in Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells: An Exploratory In Vitro Study. Gateway Medical Journal, 1 (1), 64-73. doi:10.5455/GMJ.328908


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