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Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Frontiers in Pharmacology

The role of the JAK/STAT pathway in the pathogenesis and treatment of post-COVID autoimmune syndromes

  • Lorenza Bruno1
  • Marta Di Berardino1
  • Giacomo Cafaro1
  • Roberto Dal Pozzolo1
  • Fulvia Ceccarelli2
  • Yehuda Shoenfeld3,4
  • Roberto Gerli1
  • Elena Bartoloni1
  • Carlo Perricone1
4 affiliations
  1. 1Rheumatology, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Perugia, Piazzale Giorgio Menghini
  2. 2Division of Rheumatology, Department of Clinical Internal, Anaesthesiologic and Cardiovascular Sciences, Sapienza University
  3. 3Reichman University
  4. 4The Zabludowicz Center for Autoimmune Diseases and Rheumatology Unit, Sheba Medical Center
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Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has not only resulted in acute respiratory illness but has also led to a growing population of individuals affected by persistent, debilitating symptoms, collectively known as post-COVID syndrome or “Long COVID”. This condition presents with a variety of manifestations, including fatigue, joint pain, cognitive disturbances, and dysautonomia, often mimicking autoimmune and neuroinflammatory disorders. Recent research highlights the Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) signalling pathway as a central mediator in the inflammatory cascade triggered by SARS-CoV-2 infection. This review explores the dual role of the JAK/STAT pathway in both the acute phase of COVID-19 and its potential contribution to post-infectious autoimmune phenomena. We summarize the current understanding of JAK inhibitors (JAKi) as therapeutic agents for mitigating hyperinflammation during active infection and examine their emerging role in the management of post-COVID syndromes, particularly in cases with pulmonary involvement and features overlapping with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. Moreover, we discuss the safety profile of JAKi, their impact on vaccine immunogenicity, and the implications of autoantibody formation targeting the autonomic nervous system. Understanding the immunopathological mechanisms underpinning post-COVID may not only inform therapeutic strategies but also illuminate broader pathways involved in chronic autoimmune conditions.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{bruno2026role,
  title = {{The role of the JAK/STAT pathway in the pathogenesis and treatment of post-COVID autoimmune syndromes}},
  author = {Lorenza Bruno and Marta Di Berardino and Giacomo Cafaro and Roberto Dal Pozzolo and Fulvia Ceccarelli and Yehuda Shoenfeld and Roberto Gerli and Elena Bartoloni and Carlo Perricone},
  journal = {Frontiers in Pharmacology},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.3389/fphar.2026.1939700},
  url = {https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2026.1939700/full},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - The role of the JAK/STAT pathway in the pathogenesis and treatment of post-COVID autoimmune syndromes
AU  - Lorenza Bruno
AU  - Marta Di Berardino
AU  - Giacomo Cafaro
AU  - Roberto Dal Pozzolo
AU  - Fulvia Ceccarelli
AU  - Yehuda Shoenfeld
AU  - Roberto Gerli
AU  - Elena Bartoloni
AU  - Carlo Perricone
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/26
JO  - Frontiers in Pharmacology
DO  - 10.3389/fphar.2026.1939700
UR  - https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2026.1939700/full
AB  - The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has not only resulted in acute respiratory illness but has also led to a growing population of individuals affected by persistent, debilitating symptoms, collectively known as post-COVID syndrome or “Long COVID”. This condition presents with a variety of manifestations, including fatigue, joint pain, cognitive disturbances, and dysautonomia, often mimicking autoimmune and neuroinflammatory disorders. Recent research highlights the Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) signalling pathway as a central mediator in the inflammatory cascade triggered by SARS-CoV-2 infection. This review explores the dual role of the JAK/STAT pathway in both the acute phase of COVID-19 and its potential contribution to post-infectious autoimmune phenomena. We summarize the current understanding of JAK inhibitors (JAKi) as therapeutic agents for mitigating hyperinflammation during active infection and examine their emerging role in the management of post-COVID syndromes, particularly in cases with pulmonary involvement and features overlapping with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. Moreover, we discuss the safety profile of JAKi, their impact on vaccine immunogenicity, and the implications of autoantibody formation targeting the autonomic nervous system. Understanding the immunopathological mechanisms underpinning post-COVID may not only inform therapeutic strategies but also illuminate broader pathways involved in chronic autoimmune conditions.
SN  - 1663-9812
ER  -