IFNK (interferon kappa) is a type I interferon primarily produced by keratinocytes that functions as a critical regulator of cutaneous and systemic immune responses 1. As a cytokine, IFNK activates interferon-stimulated response element signaling and modulates immune cell function, particularly in the skin's first-line defense against viral infection 2. IFNK expression is dynamically regulated; it is induced early after skin injury or viral challenge through IFN-β-dependent signaling mechanisms and STAT1 activation 3. In wound healing, IFNK upregulation is essential for normal tissue repair, with decreased expression contributing to impaired healing in diabetic wounds 4. Pathologically, IFNK acts as a rheostat for inflammatory disease initiation—overexpression drives psoriasiform inflammation and cutaneous lupus erythematosus-like lesions with systemic autoimmunity, including anti-dsDNA antibodies and photosensitivity 21. Genetically, IFNK variants associate with systemic lupus erythematosus susceptibility in a sex-dependent manner and correlate with elevated serum type I interferon levels 5. Additionally, genes regulating IFNK expression (SIDT2, RBBP8NL) influence keratinocyte responses to herpes simplex virus infection 6. These findings establish IFNK as both a protective immune mediator and a potential therapeutic target in inflammatory and infectious skin diseases.