Long Covid Winter

Wonderful post by @Vinceanna in the discussion around a few key theories including the possibility of tiny clots and reduced levels of oxygen throughout the body. I want, however, to return to proinflammatory cytokines and the study by researchers at the UNSW Kirby Institute and St Vincent's Hospital. But first lets make reference to another study - an oldie but a goodie.

The article VLA-4/CD49d downregulated on primed T lymphocytes during interferon-β therapy in multiple sclerosis published in November 2000 discusses interferon-β (IFN-β) treatments in the downregulation of CD49d expression on certain lymphocyte subsets including CD8+. If IFN-β treatments downregulate CD49d then I am simply assuming without any real scientific understanding that there is an important link between IFN-β and CD49d. Bear with me as I return to the aforementioned Australian study.

The article, previously referenced on another thread, titled Immunological dysfunction persists for 8 months following initial mild-to-moderate SARS-CoV-2 infection discusses biomarkers for long Covid. The researchers found that of 28 potential markers that were analysed, six were noticeably elevated and of that six, IFN-β was the single most important indicator of long Covid.

Of course, the proteomics study in collaboration with Dr Koralnik will look at not 28 potential markers but 7000 plasma proteins. I wonder whether IFN-β will show up?