Immune-Based Cytokine Signatures of Prolonged Pandemic-Associated Chilblains
Most pandemic-associated chilblains (PAC) resolve spontaneously, but a subset of patients develops persistent or recurrent disease. We analyzed peripheral cytokine profiles in 17 patients with prolonged PAC and identified elevated IFN-γ, CXCL10, CX3CL1, IL-16, CCL22, and S100A8. In contrast to the transient type I interferon response described in acute PAC, prolonged disease was characterized by a type II interferon-skewed inflammatory signature with T cell activation and endothelial involvement. Frequent autoimmune comorbidities suggest baseline immune dysregulation contributing to chronicity. These findings highlight potential therapeutic targets, including JAK inhibition and IFN-γ-directed therapies.
Authors
- Giuseppe Sangiorgio (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-9260-2915)
- Grace Chamberlin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5985-9272)
- Douglas B. Kuhns (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9971-0760)
- Ottavia M. Delmonte (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4772-0799)
- Danielle A Fink
- Brianna T. Wachter (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2950-2683)
- Esther E. Freeman (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7751-9466)
- K Dobbs
- Gadwyn Sánchez
- Peter D. Burbelo
- Luigi D Notarangelo
Institutions
- Leidos (United States) (US)
- University of Catania (IT)
- Massachusetts General Hospital (US)
- National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (US)
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- The Journal of Infectious Diseases
- Published
- 2026-02-17
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiag103
- Primary Topic
- Dermatological and COVID-19 studies
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00