Interferons (IFNs) are a group of signaling proteins made and released by host cells in response to the presence of pathogens, such as viruses, bacteria, parasites, or tumor cells. Based on the type of receptor, human interferons have been classified into three major types: interferon type I, including IFN-α, IFN-β, IFN-ε, IFN-κ and IFN-ω, interferon type II (IFN-γ in humans) and interferon type III.
IFN-β, acting via STAT1 and STAT2, is known to upregulate and downregulate a wide variety of genes, most of which are involved in the antiviral immune response .IFN-β plays an important role in inducing non-specific resistance against a broad range of viral infections. It also affects cell proliferation and modulates immune responses.