Longitudinal Analysis of Human Memory T-Cell Response According to the Severity of Illness up to 8 Months After Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection.
J Infect Dis
; 224(1): 39-48, 2021 07 02.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1294730
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Understanding the memory T-cell response to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is crucial for assessing the longevity of protective immunity after SARS-CoV-2 infection or coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination. However, the longitudinal memory T-cell response up to 8 months post-symptom onset (PSO) according to the severity of illness is unknown.METHODS:
We analyzed peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy volunteers or patients with COVID-19 who experienced asymptomatic, mild, or severe illness at 2, 5, and 8 months PSO. SARS-CoV-2 spike, nucleocapsid, and membrane protein-stimulated PBMCs were subjected to flow cytometry analysis.RESULTS:
A total of 24 patients (7 asymptomatic, 9 with mild disease, and 8 with severe disease) and 6 healthy volunteers were analyzed. SARS-CoV-2-specific OX40+CD137+CD4+ T cells and CD69+CD137+CD8+ T cells persisted at 8 months PSO. Also, antigen-specific cytokine-producing or polyfunctional CD4+ T cells were maintained for up to 8 months PSO. Memory CD4+ T-cell responses tended to be greater in patients who had severe illness than in those with mild or asymptomatic disease.CONCLUSIONS:
Memory response to SARS-CoV-2, based on the frequency and functionality, persists for 8 months PSO. Further investigations involving its longevity and protective effect from reinfection are warranted.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
T-Lymphocyte Subsets
/
Host-Pathogen Interactions
/
SARS-CoV-2
/
COVID-19
/
Immunologic Memory
Type of study:
Cohort study
/
Diagnostic study
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Topics:
Long Covid
/
Vaccines
Limits:
Adult
/
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Language:
English
Journal:
J Infect Dis
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
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