SARS-CoV-2 epitope-specific CD4 + memory T cell responses across COVID-19 disease severity and antibody durability
CD4 T cells are central to long-term immunity against viruses through the functions of T helper 1 (T 1) and T follicular helper (T ) cell subsets. To better understand the role of these subsets in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) immunity, we conducted a longitudinal study of severe acute respira...
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Published in: | Science immunology Vol. 7; no. 73; p. eabl9464 |
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Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
Format: | Journal Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
United States
22-07-2022
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Subjects: | |
Online Access: | Get more information |
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Summary: | CD4
T cells are central to long-term immunity against viruses through the functions of T helper 1 (T
1) and T follicular helper (T
) cell subsets. To better understand the role of these subsets in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) immunity, we conducted a longitudinal study of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-specific CD4
T cell and antibody responses in convalescent individuals who seroconverted during the first wave of the pandemic in Boston, MA, USA, across a range of COVID-19 disease severities. Analyses of spike (S) and nucleocapsid (N) epitope-specific CD4
T cells using peptide and major histocompatibility complex class II (pMHCII) tetramers demonstrated expanded populations of T cells recognizing the different SARS-CoV-2 epitopes in most individuals compared with prepandemic controls. Individuals who experienced a milder disease course not requiring hospitalization had a greater percentage of circulating T
(cT
) and T
1 cells among SARS-CoV-2-specific cells. Analysis of SARS-CoV-2-specific CD4
T cells responses in a subset of individuals with sustained anti-S antibody responses after viral clearance also revealed an increased proportion of memory cT
cells. Our findings indicate that efficient early disease control also predicts favorable long-term adaptive immunity. |
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ISSN: | 2470-9468 |
DOI: | 10.1126/sciimmunol.abl9464 |