Summary
| Direction in Long COVID | ↑ Elevated — higher than in the comparison group |
|---|---|
| Category | Inflammatory |
| Also described as | Chemokine |
| Compared against | Non-COVID controls |
| Associated symptoms | Elevated at 3 months post-infection |
| Test type | Blood test (serum / plasma / whole blood) |
| Source | Kallaste et al. 2025 — doi:10.3390/medicina61060996 |
| Condition atlas | Long COVID Biomarker Atlas |
Trials, interventions and tests
In clinical-trial registrations this marker maps to the outcome term Assessment of Changes in Exosome/Cytokine/Chemokine Testing (4 registered trials use a matching outcome measure).
Clinical trials using CCL4 (MIP-1β) as an outcome
- NCT05833217: Obesity, Insulin Resistance, and PASC: Persistent SARS-CoV-2 (Recruiting)
Outcome measure: Rate of Inflammatory Gene Expression in Adipose Tissue - NCT06535165: Effect of Red Beetroot Juice Intake in Adults With Long COVID-19 (Completed)
Outcome measure: Changes in the concentration of circulating inflammatory mediators - NCT05669261: Treatment of Long COVID Symptoms Utilizing Autologous Stem Cells Following COVID-19 Infection (Unknown)
Outcome measure: Assessment of Changes in Exosome/Cytokine/Chemokine Testing - NCT05874089: VSL#3® vs Placebo in the Treatment of Fatigue and Other Symptoms in Long Covid (DELong#3) (Unknown)
Outcome measure: Analysis of PBMC and Serum Expression of inflammatory mediators at baseline (t0) and after 4 weeks of treatment (t4)
Related Inflammatory markers in Long COVID
- Flt-1 / sVEGFR-1 ↑
- Cystatin D (CST5) ↑
- Soluble CD14 (sCD14) ↑
- Pro-inflammatory cytokines (composite) ↓
- C-Reactive Protein (CRP) ↑
- Transforming Growth Factor-β (TGF-β) ↑
- Interleukin-1α (IL-1α) ↑
- Interleukin-8 (IL-8) ↑
Full list: Long COVID Biomarker Atlas.
Frequently asked questions
Is CCL4 (MIP-1β) high or low in Long COVID?
Elevated. Studies summarised in the OSMF atlas report higher CCL4 (MIP-1β) in Long COVID than in Non-COVID controls. Source: Kallaste et al. 2025.
What symptoms is CCL4 (MIP-1β) associated with in Long COVID?
The cited literature associates this marker with Elevated at 3 months post-infection. These are population-level associations and do not mean the marker causes the symptoms.
Which test measures CCL4 (MIP-1β)?
It is measured as a blood test (serum / plasma / whole blood). Many of the cited studies used research-grade assays, so clinical availability may vary.
Is one abnormal CCL4 (MIP-1β) result diagnostic of Long COVID?
No. No single biomarker is diagnostic of Long COVID. CCL4 (MIP-1β) 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.
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Last reviewed: 2026-06-29 · Page generated from long-covid.json · Browse: Long COVID 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.