The IFN-α-JAK/Stat signaling pathway is critical for host defense against viral infection by stimulating transcription of antiviral, antiproliferative, and antitumor genes, suggesting that down-regulation of IFNAR2 and Stat-1 in skin from K14E6 transgenic mice might be critical for immune evasion and therefore for cancer development. This evidence concerns the gene SOAT1 and viral infectious disease.