Durability of SARS-CoV-2–Specific T-Cell Responses at 12 Months Postinfection. (21st October 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lu, Zhongyan; Laing, Eric D; Pena DaMata, Jarina; Pohida, Katherine; Tso, Marana S; Samuels, Emily C; Epsi, Nusrat J; Dorjbal, Batsukh; Lake, Camille; Richard, Stephanie A; Maves, Ryan C; Lindholm, David A; Rozman, Julia S; English, Caroline; Huprikar, Nikhil; Mende, Katrin; Colombo, Rhonda E; Colombo, Christopher J; Broder, Christopher C; Ganesan, Anuradha; Lanteri, Charlotte A; Agan, Brian K; Tribble, David; Simons, Mark P; Dalgard, Clifton L; Blair, Paul W; Chenoweth, Josh; Pollett, Simon D; Snow, Andrew L; Burgess, Timothy H; Malloy, Allison M W;
• Is Part Of: Journal of infectious diseases. Volume 224:Number 12(2021)
• Page Start: 2010
• Page End: 2019
• Publication Date: 2021-10-21
• Subjects: COVID-19 -- SARS-CoV-2 -- 12 months -- T cell -- antibody -- memory -- cytotoxicity -- polyfunctionality -- durability; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Diseases -- Causes and theories of causation -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Communicable Diseases -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.9
• DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiab543
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-1899

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Characterizing the longevity and quality of cellular immune responses to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) enhances understanding of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) immunity that influences clinical outcomes. Prior studies suggest SARS-CoV-2–specific T cells are present in peripheral blood 10 months after infection. Analysis of the function, durability, and diversity of cellular response long after natural infection, over a range of ages and disease phenotypes, is needed to identify preventative and therapeutic interventions. Methods: We identified participants in our multisite longitudinal, prospective cohort study 12 months after SARS-CoV-2 infection representing a range of disease severity. We investigated function, phenotypes, and frequency of T cells specific for SARS-CoV-2 using intracellular cytokine staining and spectral flow cytometry, and compared magnitude of SARS-CoV-2–specific antibodies. Results: SARS-CoV-2–specific antibodies and T cells were detected 12 months postinfection. Severe acute illness was associated with higher frequencies of SARS-CoV-2–specific CD4 T cells and antibodies at 12 months. In contrast, polyfunctional and cytotoxic T cells responsive to SARS-CoV-2 were identified in participants over a wide spectrum of disease severity. Conclusions: SARS-CoV-2 infection induces polyfunctional memory T cells detectable at 12 months postinfection, with higher frequency noted in those who experienced severe disease. Abstract : Circulating SARS-CoV-2–specific T cells could be measured 12 months postinfection. Severe acute COVID-19 was associated with a higher magnitude of SARS-CoV-2–specific CD4 T cells and a polyfunctional, central memory phenotype predominated across the disease spectrum.