{Reference Type}: Randomized Controlled Trial
{Title}: Type I interferon autoantibodies in hospitalized patients with Middle East respiratory syndrome and association with outcomes and treatment effect of interferon beta-1b in MIRACLE clinical trial.
{Author}: Alotaibi F;Alharbi NK;Rosen LB;Asiri AY;Assiri AM;Balkhy HH;Al Jeraisy M;Mandourah Y;AlJohani S;Al Harbi S;Jokhdar HAA;Deeb AM;Memish ZA;Jose J;Ghazal S;Al Faraj S;Al Mekhlafi GA;Sherbeeni NM;Elzein FE;AlMutairi BM;Al-Dawood A;Abdullah ML;Barhoumi T;Alenazi MW;Almasood A;Holland SM;Arabi YM; ;
{Journal}: Influenza Other Respir Viruses
{Volume}: 17
{Issue}: 3
{Year}: 03 2023
{Factor}: 5.606
{DOI}: 10.1111/irv.13116
{Abstract}: Type I interferons (IFNs) are essential antiviral cytokines induced upon respiratory exposure to coronaviruses. Defects in type I IFN signaling can result in severe disease upon exposure to respiratory viral infection and are associated with worse clinical outcomes. Neutralizing autoantibodies (auto-Abs) to type I IFNs were reported as a risk factor for life-threatening COVID-19, but their presence has not been evaluated in patients with severe Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS).<BR>We evaluated the prevalence of type I IFN auto-Abs in a cohort of hospitalized patients with MERS who were enrolled in a placebo-controlled clinical trial for treatment with IFN-β1b and lopinavir-ritonavir (MIRACLE trial). Samples were tested for type I IFN auto-Abs using a multiplex particle-based assay.<BR>Among the 62 enrolled patients, 15 (24.2%) were positive for immunoglobulin G auto-Abs for at least one subtype of type I IFNs. Auto-Abs positive patients were not different from auto-Abs negative patients in age, sex, or comorbidities. However, the majority (93.3%) of patients who were auto-Abs positive were critically ill and admitted to the ICU at the time of enrollment compared to 66% in the auto-Abs negative patients. The effect of treatment with IFN-β1b and lopinavir-ritonavir did not significantly differ between the two groups.<BR>This study demonstrates the presence of type I IFN auto-Abs in hospitalized patients with MERS.