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. 2023 Jan 11;227(2):246-250.
doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiac372.

Low Prevalence of Interferon α Autoantibodies in People Experiencing Symptoms of Post-Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Conditions, or Long COVID

Michael J Peluso  1 , Anthea Mitchell  2 , Chung Yu Wang  2 , Saki Takahashi  1 , Rebecca Hoh  1 , Viva Tai  1 , Matthew S Durstenfeld  3 , Priscilla Y Hsue  3 , J Daniel Kelly  4 , Jeffrey N Martin  4 , Michael R Wilson  5 , Bryan Greenhouse  1 , Steven G Deeks  1 , Joseph L DeRisi  2 , Timothy J Henrich  6
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Low Prevalence of Interferon α Autoantibodies in People Experiencing Symptoms of Post-Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Conditions, or Long COVID

Michael J Peluso et al. J Infect Dis. .

Abstract

Interferon (IFN)-specific autoantibodies have been implicated in severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and have been proposed as a potential driver of the persistent symptoms characterizing "long COVID," a type of postacute sequelae of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. We report that only 2 of 215 participants with convalescent SARS-CoV-2 infection tested over 394 time points, including 121 people experiencing long COVID symptoms, had detectable IFN-α2 antibodies. Both had been hospitalized during the acute phase of the infection. These data suggest that persistent anti-IFN antibodies, although a potential driver of severe COVID-19, are unlikely to contribute to long COVID symptoms in the postacute phase of the infection.

Keywords: COVID-19; autoimmunity; long COVID; post-COVID conditions; postacute sequalae of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

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Conflict of interest statement

Potential conflicts of interest. T. J. H. reports grants from Merck, Gilead Biosciences, and Bristol-Myers Squibb, outside the submitted work. T. J. H. has provided consulting for Roche. S. G. D. reports grants and/or personal fees from Gilead Sciences, Merck, ViiV, AbbVie, Eli Lilly, ByroLogyx, and Enochian Biosciences, outside the submitted work. JD reports paid compensation for consulting for the Public Health Company and Allen & Co. All other authors report no potential conflicts. All authors have submitted the ICMJE Form for Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest. Conflicts that the editors consider relevant to the content of the manuscript have been disclosed.

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