Interferons and their application in the diseases of the lung.

Interferons (IFNs) are a family of cytokine mediators that are critically involved in alerting the cellular immune system to viral infections of host cells. There are three major classes of IFNs, as follows: IFN-alpha; IFN-beta; and IFN-gamma. IFNs are being investigated and applied in various respiratory disorders, including interstitial lung diseases, lung cancer, malignant mesothelioma, malignant pleural effusions, and respiratory infections.