Increased prevalence of autoantibodies neutralizing IFNλ2/3 in young individuals with cystic fibrosis.

Groen et al. identify neutralizing interferon-λ2/3 autoantibodies in 11.8% of individuals with cystic fibrosis, a greater than 10-fold higher prevalence than in control individuals. Autoantibody-containing plasmas enhanced respiratory virus replication in vitro, and associated with allergic rhinitis in patients, suggesting that interferon-λ2/3 autoantibodies have the potential to impact mucosal pathology.