Abstract
Interferons (IFNs) are a family of cytokines, or protein hormones, which modulate the immune response and provide resistance to viral infection. The effects of IFN are mediated through cell-surface receptors, which recognize extracellular IFN and activate cellular signaling pathways, ultimately leading to gene induction and repression. IFNs are divided into three classes, type-I, type-II, and type-III IFNs. There are multiple members of the type-I IFN family, including IFN-α and IFN-β, whereas IFN-γ is the only known type-II IFN and IFN-λ is the only known type-III IFN. All IFNs bind to distinct receptors and have very different cellular outcomes. Type-I and III IFN receptors predominantly activate an antiviral, innate immune response. Signaling through type-II IFN receptors, on the other hand, is involved in modulating the adaptive immune response. All IFN receptors share, in common, the ability to, directly and quickly, induce new gene transcription through the activation of JAK/STAT signaling pathways.
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