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Published on: June 14, 2018
Examination of autoantibodies to type I interferon in patients suffering from long COVID
Kristoffer Skaalum Hansen1,2, Sofie Eg Jørgensen1,3, Morten Kelder Skouboe1,3
1Department of Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
Insights
Autoantibodies against type 1 interferons (IFN) were investigated in Long COVID (LC) patients. This study found no significant difference in anti-type I IFN autoantibody prevalence between LC patients and controls, suggesting they do not drive LC symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases
- Autoimmunity
Background:
- Long COVID (LC) presents a significant global health challenge with unclear underlying mechanisms.
- Autoantibodies against type 1 interferons (IFN) are known predictors of critical COVID-19 severity.
- Persistent autoimmune activity, specifically anti-type I IFN autoantibodies, is hypothesized to contribute to LC symptoms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of autoantibodies against type 1 interferons (IFN) in a Danish Long COVID cohort.
- To determine if persistent autoimmune activity with anti-type I IFN autoantibodies contributes to Long COVID symptoms.
Main Methods:
- Plasma samples and clinical data were collected from 279 adult Long COVID patients and 94 controls with prior mild SARS-CoV-2 infection.
- Type 1 IFN autoantibodies were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
- Symptom data and quality of life were assessed using specific questionnaires.
Main Results:
- Detectable circulating type 1 IFN autoantibodies were found in 1.8% of Long COVID patients and 3.2% of controls.
- The prevalence of anti-type I IFN autoantibodies in the LC cohort did not exceed that in the control group.
- Prevalence was primarily observed in men within the LC cohort.
Conclusions:
- In this cohort, autoantibodies against type 1 interferons are unlikely to be a primary driver of Long COVID symptoms.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the complex pathophysiology of Long COVID.
Abstract:
Long COVID (LC) is an emerging global health concern. The underlying mechanism and pathophysiology remain unclear. Presence of neutralizing autoantibodies against type 1 interferons (IFN) has been established as a predictor of critical COVID-19. We hypothesized that persistent autoimmune activity with autoantibodies against type 1 IFN may contribute to symptoms in patients with LC. Plasma samples and clinical information were obtained from a Danish LC cohort consisting of adult patients with confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Information on symptoms and quality of life was derived from an LC-specific questionnaire and the EQ-5D-5L questionnaire. Detection of type 1 IFN autoantibodies in plasma were performed by ELISA. Samples collected between June, 2020, and September, 2021, from 279 patients were analyzed and compared to a control group of 94 individuals with prior mild SARS-CoV-2 infection who did not develop LC symptoms. In total, five LC patients (1.8%) and 3 (3.2%) of the controls had detectable circulating type 1 IFN autoantibodies. Collectively, prevalence of autoantibodies against type 1 IFN subtypes in our LC cohort were primarily driven by men and did not exceed the prevalence in controls. Thus, in our cohort, anti-type I IFN autoantibodies are unlikely to drive LC symptoms.
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