Abstract
Interferons (IFNs) were the original prototype cytokine system discovered in 20th century research. As the name interferon implies (derived from the Latin interfere-on), these proteins have immunostimulatory, primarily antiviral and antitumour properties and are synthesised and secreted between cells. Due to technological advances, processes and variable factors involved in IFN regulation can be comparatively explained by proteins expressed and genes expressed. In this review, we provide a brief introduction and background on the history of IFN research. We then provide an overview of type I IFNs, associated cells, and their receptors and outline the characteristics of type I IFN subtypes. We distinguished between the three types of IFN in the immune system of higher mammals and the associated cellular signalling mechanisms of IFNs together with IFN–inducible transmembrane proteins (IFITM) during viral infection. Additionally, we elucidated the role of IFN in viral diseases, as well as type II IFN and immunological disorders, in infections and deficiency followed by type I IFN subtypes. Errors in the IFN signal transduction and activator of transcription (STAT) protein signalling pathway during disease were analysed. This paper concludes with an examination of the role of type I/II/III interferon signalling since the discovery of the timing of interferon synthesis within immune cell pathways, examining autoantibodies, interferons and errors, and finally closing with the current understanding of interferon and immunotherapy regulation in cancer.