Lambda-interferons (IFN-ls) have been demonstrated as having the ability to inhibit HIV replication in macrophages. However, specific differences in signaling transduction and anti-HIV activity in macrophages between different IFN-ls are unclear. Here, we showed that although all 3 members of (IFN-l1, l2, and l3) IFN-l family induced the expression of a number of genes of janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription ( JAK/STAT) signaling pathway in monocyte-derived macrophages, IFN-l1 or IFN-l3 induced higher levels of antiviral IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs) expression than did IFN-l2. In addition, IFN-l1 or IFN-l3 induced higher levels of several pattern recognition receptors (PPRs) than did IFN-l2. Incubation of IFN-ls with HIV-infected macrophages showed that IFN-l1 or IFN-l3 is more potent in anti-HIV activity than IFN-l2. We also showed that IFN-l treatment before HIV infection was more potent in HIV inhibition than that after HIV infection. Further investigations showed that the inductions of ISGs and PPRs expression by IFN-ls were largely compromised by HIV infection. These findings provide further experimental evidence that IFN-ls have therapeutic potential in treatment of HIV infection.