This paper provides a comprehensive review of Interferons (IFNs), a class of signaling proteins crucial in health and disease. It details the three main types of IFNs (I, II, and III), highlighting their structural and functional differences, despite all signaling through Janus kinases. The review covers the cellular and molecular mechanisms of IFN induction and response, including the roles of pattern-recognition receptors (PRRs) and the subsequent activation of the JAK/STAT signaling pathway to produce interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs). Furthermore, the document extensively explores the pleiotropic and sometimes opposing roles of IFNs in various pathological contexts, such as viral and bacterial infections, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases (including interferonopathies), and conditions affecting mucosal surfaces like the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts.
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