Summary
| Direction in Gulf War Illness | ↑ Elevated — higher than in the comparison group |
|---|---|
| Category | Inflammatory |
| Also described as | Th1 cytokine |
| Compared against | HGV (healthy Gulf War veteran controls) |
| Associated symptoms | Immune activation |
| Test type | Blood test (serum / plasma / whole blood) |
| LOINC code | 14477-8 |
| Source | Maury & Holton 2024 — doi:10.1016/j.lfs.2024.122876 |
| Condition atlas | Gulf War Illness Biomarker Atlas |
Other conditions where Interferon-γ (IFN-γ) is reported
- Interferon-γ (IFN-γ) in Lyme Disease — ↑ elevated vs HC
See the cross-condition hub: Interferon-γ (IFN-γ) across conditions.
Trials, interventions and tests
In clinical-trial registrations this marker maps to the outcome term serum Interferon gamma, pg/mL (2 registered trials use a matching outcome measure).
Clinical trials using Interferon-γ (IFN-γ) as an outcome
- NCT05524532: Effects of Immulina TM Supplements With PASC Patients (Completed)
Outcome measure: serum Interferon gamma, pg/mL - NCT05556733: FMT for Post-acute COVID-19 Syndrome (Unknown)
Outcome measure: Change in blood cytokine profile
Interventions studied alongside this marker
Hypothesis-generating links from trial outcome usage and literature co-occurrence. Not treatment recommendations.
- Immulina — 1 trial, 1 PubMed co-citations
e.g. Toll-like receptor 2-dependent activation of monocytes by Spirulina polysaccharide and its immune enhancing…
Commercial test availability
Interferon-γ (IFN-γ) — specialty laboratory test.
Links are for reference only; availability, specimen requirements and coverage vary by location.
Related Inflammatory markers in Gulf War Illness
- sCD14 ↑
- sCD26 (soluble DPPIV) ↕
- Neopterin ↑
- Interleukin-8 (IL-8 / CXCL8) ↑
- Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) ↑
- Interleukin-6 (IL-6) ↑
- Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α) ↑
- C-Reactive Protein (CRP) ↑
Full list: Gulf War Illness Biomarker Atlas.
Frequently asked questions
Is Interferon-γ (IFN-γ) high or low in Gulf War Illness?
Elevated. Studies summarised in the OSMF atlas report higher Interferon-γ (IFN-γ) in Gulf War Illness than in healthy Gulf War veteran controls. Source: Maury & Holton 2024.
What symptoms is Interferon-γ (IFN-γ) associated with in Gulf War Illness?
The cited literature associates this marker with Immune activation. These are population-level associations and do not mean the marker causes the symptoms.
Which test measures Interferon-γ (IFN-γ)?
It is measured as a blood test (serum / plasma / whole blood). The standard laboratory code is LOINC 14477-8. Commercial laboratories such as Quest Diagnostics, ARUP Laboratories list an orderable assay.
Is one abnormal Interferon-γ (IFN-γ) result diagnostic of Gulf War Illness?
No. No single biomarker is diagnostic of Gulf War Illness. Interferon-γ (IFN-γ) findings come from group comparisons, overlap considerably between patients and controls, and vary with study design, timing and comparison group. A result should be interpreted by a clinician alongside symptoms, history and other tests.
Is Interferon-γ (IFN-γ) specific to Gulf War Illness?
No. The same marker is also reported in Lyme Disease in this atlas, so it reflects shared biology (for example inflammation or vascular stress) rather than a condition-specific signature.
Cite this page
Subscribe on Substack
Last reviewed: 2026-06-29 · Page generated from gulf-war-illness.json · Browse: Gulf War Illness atlas · Biomarker Index · All marker pages
Disclaimer: This page is an educational synthesis of published, peer-reviewed research and is not medical advice. Biomarker findings vary across studies with case definitions, comparison groups, timing and assay methods. Direction of change reflects the predominant finding in the cited source and does not establish a diagnostic threshold. Discuss any test result with a qualified clinician.