Interferons (IFNs) are pleiotropic immune-modulatory cytokines that are well known for their essential role in host defense against viruses, bacteria, and other pathogenic microorganisms. They can exert both, protective or destructive functions depending on the microorganism, the targeted tissue and the cellular context. Interferon signaling results in the induction of IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs) influencing different cellular pathways including direct anti-viral/anti-bacterial response, immune-modulation or cell death. Multiple pathways leading to host cell death have been described, and it is becoming clear that depending on the cellular context, IFN-induced cell death can be beneficial for both: host and pathogen. Accordingly, activation or repression of corresponding signaling mechanisms occurs during various types of infection but is also an important pathway for gastrointestinal inflammation and tissue damage. In this review, we summarize the role of interferons at the crossroad of various cell death pathways in the gut during inflammation and infection.

干扰素（IFN）是多效性免疫调节细胞因子，以其在宿主防御病毒，细菌和其他病原微生物中的重要作用而闻名。它们可以发挥保护性或破坏性功能，具体取决于微生物，目标组织和细胞环境。干扰素信号传导可诱导IFN刺激基因（ISG），影响不同的细胞途径，包括直接的抗病毒/抗细菌反应，免疫调节或细胞死亡。已经描述了导致宿主细胞死亡的多种途径，并且越来越明显的是，取决于细胞环境，IFN诱导的细胞死亡对于宿主和病原体都可能是有益的。因此，相应的信号传导机制的激活或抑制发生在各种类型的感染期间，但它也是胃肠道炎症和组织损伤的重要途径。在这篇综述中，我们总结了干扰素在炎症和感染过程中肠道各种细胞死亡途径的十字路口的作用。