Summary
| Direction in Lyme Disease | ↑ Elevated — higher than in the comparison group |
|---|---|
| Category | Inflammatory |
| Also described as | Th1 cytokine |
| Compared against | HC (healthy controls) |
| Associated symptoms | Cell-mediated immune response |
| Test type | Blood test (serum / plasma / whole blood) |
| LOINC code | 14477-8 |
| Source | Lantos et al. 2021 — doi:10.1016/j.idc.2021.05.001 |
| Condition atlas | Lyme Disease Biomarker Atlas |
Other conditions where Interferon-γ (IFN-γ) is reported
- Interferon-γ (IFN-γ) in Gulf War Illness — ↑ elevated vs HGV
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 Lyme Disease
- Interleukin-10 (IL-10) ↑
- C-Reactive Protein (CRP) ↕
- Interleukin-6 (IL-6) ↑
- CCL19 ↑
- ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate) ↕
Full list: Lyme Disease Biomarker Atlas.
Frequently asked questions
Is Interferon-γ (IFN-γ) high or low in Lyme Disease?
Elevated. Studies summarised in the OSMF atlas report higher Interferon-γ (IFN-γ) in Lyme Disease than in healthy controls. Source: Lantos et al. 2021.
What symptoms is Interferon-γ (IFN-γ) associated with in Lyme Disease?
The cited literature associates this marker with Cell-mediated immune response. 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 Lyme Disease?
No. No single biomarker is diagnostic of Lyme Disease. 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 Lyme Disease?
No. The same marker is also reported in Gulf War Illness in this atlas, so it reflects shared biology (for example inflammation or vascular stress) rather than a condition-specific signature.
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Last reviewed: 2026-06-29 · Page generated from lyme.json · Browse: Lyme Disease 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.