IFNA1 and viral infectious disease: Mechanistically, we speculate that therapeutic IFN may compensate GC-dependent loss of IFN-dependent antiviral immunity and protect against the delay of viral clearance and disease recovery caused by GC therapy as observed in experimental viral infections after GC therapy.16 Additionally, IFN themselves have recently shown promising therapeutic potential against COVID-19 with molecular mechanisms involving both anti-viral replication and suppression of CSS.17,18,23,33 These evidences clearly warrant further research and randomized trials of IFN and GC as a combination therapy for COVID-19.