Chang Kyung Kang1, Minji Kim2,3,4, Soojin Lee2,3,4, Gwanghun Kim2,3,4, Pyoeng Gyun Choe1, Wan Beom Park1, Nam Joong Kim1, Chang-Han Lee2,4,5,6, Ik Soo Kim7, Keehoon Jung2,3,4,8, Dong-Sup Lee2,3,4,6,8, Hyun Mu Shin2,4,6, Hang-Rae Kim2,3,4,6,8, Myoung-Don Oh1. 1. Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. 2. Department of Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. 3. Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. 4. BK21 FOUR Biomedical Science Project, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. 5. Department of Pharmacology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. 6. Wide River Institute of Immunology, Seoul National University, Hongcheon, Republic of Korea. 7. Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Gachon University, Incheon, Republic of Korea. 8. Medical Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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.
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.
Authors: Zhongyan Lu; Eric D Laing; Jarina Pena DaMata; Katherine Pohida; Marana S Tso; Emily C Samuels; Nusrat J Epsi; Batsukh Dorjbal; Camille Lake; Stephanie A Richard; Ryan C Maves; David A Lindholm; Julia S Rozman; Caroline English; Nikhil Huprikar; Katrin Mende; Rhonda E Colombo; Christopher J Colombo; Christopher C Broder; Anuradha Ganesan; Charlotte A Lanteri; Brian K Agan; David Tribble; Mark P Simons; Clifton L Dalgard; Paul W Blair; Josh Chenoweth; Simon D Pollett; Andrew L Snow; Timothy H Burgess; Allison M W Malloy Journal: J Infect Dis Date: 2021-12-15 Impact factor: 7.759
Authors: Mark A Brockman; Francis Mwimanzi; Hope R Lapointe; Yurou Sang; Olga Agafitei; Peter K Cheung; Siobhan Ennis; Kurtis Ng; Simran Basra; Li Yi Lim; Fatima Yaseen; Landon Young; Gisele Umviligihozo; F Harrison Omondi; Rebecca Kalikawe; Laura Burns; Chanson J Brumme; Victor Leung; Julio S G Montaner; Daniel Holmes; Mari L DeMarco; Janet Simons; Ralph Pantophlet; Masahiro Niikura; Marc G Romney; Zabrina L Brumme Journal: J Infect Dis Date: 2022-04-01 Impact factor: 5.226
Authors: Andreas Törnell; Hanna Grauers Wiktorin; Johan Ringlander; Mohammad Arabpour; Malin R Nilsson; Staffan Nilsson; Roberta Kiffin; Magnus Lindh; Martin Lagging; Kristoffer Hellstrand; Anna Martner Journal: J Infect Dis Date: 2022-08-24 Impact factor: 7.759