tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Sci Immunol
. 2020 Jun 26;5(48):eabd2071.
doi: 10.1126/sciimmunol.abd2071.
Phenotype and Kinetics of SARS-CoV-2-specific T Cells in COVID-19 Patients With Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
Daniela Weiskopf[SUP] #[/SUP][SUP] 1 [/SUP], Katharina S Schmitz[SUP] #[/SUP][SUP] 2 [/SUP], Matthijs P Raadsen[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Alba Grifoni[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Nisreen M A Okba[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Henrik Endeman[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Johannes P C van den Akker[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Richard Molenkamp[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Marion P G Koopmans[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Eric C M van Gorp[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Bart L Haagmans[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Rik L de Swart[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Alessandro Sette[SUP] #[/SUP][SUP] 1 4 5 [/SUP], Rory D de Vries[SUP] #[/SUP][SUP] 6 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 has been identified as the causative agent of a global outbreak of respiratory tract disease (COVID-19). In some patients the infection results in moderate to severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), requiring invasive mechanical ventilation. High serum levels of IL-6, IL-10 and an immune hyperresponsiveness referred to as a 'cytokine storm' have been associated with poor clinical outcome. Despite the large numbers of COVID-19 cases and deaths, information on the phenotype and kinetics of SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells is limited. Here, we studied 10 COVID-19 patients who required admission to an intensive care unit and detected SARS-CoV-2-specific CD4[SUP]+[/SUP] and CD8[SUP]+[/SUP] T cells in 10 out of 10 and 8 out of 10 patients, respectively. We also detected low levels of SARS-CoV-2-reactive T cells in 2 out of 10 healthy controls not previously exposed to SARS-CoV-2, which is indicative of cross-reactivity due to past infection with 'common cold' coronaviruses. The strongest T-cell responses were directed to the spike (S) surface glycoprotein, and SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells predominantly produced effector and Th1 cytokines, although Th2 and Th17 cytokines were also detected. Furthermore, we studied T-cell kinetics and showed that SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells are present relatively early and increase over time. Collectively, these data shed light on the potential variations in T-cell responses as a function of disease severity, an issue that is key to understanding the potential role of immunopathology in the disease, and also inform vaccine design and evaluation.
. 2020 Jun 26;5(48):eabd2071.
doi: 10.1126/sciimmunol.abd2071.
Phenotype and Kinetics of SARS-CoV-2-specific T Cells in COVID-19 Patients With Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
Daniela Weiskopf[SUP] #[/SUP][SUP] 1 [/SUP], Katharina S Schmitz[SUP] #[/SUP][SUP] 2 [/SUP], Matthijs P Raadsen[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Alba Grifoni[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Nisreen M A Okba[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Henrik Endeman[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Johannes P C van den Akker[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Richard Molenkamp[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Marion P G Koopmans[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Eric C M van Gorp[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Bart L Haagmans[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Rik L de Swart[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Alessandro Sette[SUP] #[/SUP][SUP] 1 4 5 [/SUP], Rory D de Vries[SUP] #[/SUP][SUP] 6 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 32591408
- DOI: 10.1126/sciimmunol.abd2071
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 has been identified as the causative agent of a global outbreak of respiratory tract disease (COVID-19). In some patients the infection results in moderate to severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), requiring invasive mechanical ventilation. High serum levels of IL-6, IL-10 and an immune hyperresponsiveness referred to as a 'cytokine storm' have been associated with poor clinical outcome. Despite the large numbers of COVID-19 cases and deaths, information on the phenotype and kinetics of SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells is limited. Here, we studied 10 COVID-19 patients who required admission to an intensive care unit and detected SARS-CoV-2-specific CD4[SUP]+[/SUP] and CD8[SUP]+[/SUP] T cells in 10 out of 10 and 8 out of 10 patients, respectively. We also detected low levels of SARS-CoV-2-reactive T cells in 2 out of 10 healthy controls not previously exposed to SARS-CoV-2, which is indicative of cross-reactivity due to past infection with 'common cold' coronaviruses. The strongest T-cell responses were directed to the spike (S) surface glycoprotein, and SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells predominantly produced effector and Th1 cytokines, although Th2 and Th17 cytokines were also detected. Furthermore, we studied T-cell kinetics and showed that SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells are present relatively early and increase over time. Collectively, these data shed light on the potential variations in T-cell responses as a function of disease severity, an issue that is key to understanding the potential role of immunopathology in the disease, and also inform vaccine design and evaluation.