Patients with autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type 1 have an increased susceptibility to severe herpesvirus infections

Almost all patients with autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type 1 (APS-1) have neutralizing antibodies against type 1 interferons (IFN), important mediators of antiviral defense. Recently, neutralizing anti-IFN antibodies were shown to be a risk factor of severe COVID-19. Here we show in a cohort of 44 patients with APS-1 that higher titers of neutralizing anti-IFN alpha 4 antibodies are associated with a higher and earlier incidence of VZV reactivation (herpes zoster). The patients also present with uncommonly severe clinical sequelae of herpetic infections. APS-1 patients had decreased humoral immune responses to varicella zoster virus, but cellular responses were comparable to healthy controls. These results suggest that blocking the type I interferon pathway in patients with APS-1 patients leads to a clinically significant immune deficiency, and susceptibility to herpesviruses should be taken into account when treating patients with APS-1.

Automated summary

The study revealed that higher titers of neutralizing anti-IFN alpha 4 antibodies in APS-1 patients are associated with a higher and earlier incidence of VZV reactivation, leading to more severe clinical sequelae of herpetic infections. These results suggest that blocking the type I interferon pathway in APS-1 patients results in a clinically significant immune deficiency, emphasizing the importance of considering susceptibility to herpesviruses when treating APS-1 patients.