TNF-α+ CD4+ T cells dominate the SARS-CoV-2 specific T cell response in COVID-19 outpatients and are associated with durable antibodies

Cell Rep Med. 2022 Jun 21;3(6):100640. doi: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2022.100640. Epub 2022 May 3.

Abstract

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-specific CD4+ T cells are likely important in immunity against coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19), but our understanding of CD4+ longitudinal dynamics following infection and of specific features that correlate with the maintenance of neutralizing antibodies remains limited. Here, we characterize SARS-CoV-2-specific CD4+ T cells in a longitudinal cohort of 109 COVID-19 outpatients enrolled during acute infection. The quality of the SARS-CoV-2-specific CD4+ response shifts from cells producing interferon gamma (IFNγ) to tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) from 5 days to 4 months post-enrollment, with IFNγ-IL-21-TNF-α+ CD4+ T cells the predominant population detected at later time points. Greater percentages of IFNγ-IL-21-TNF-α+ CD4+ T cells on day 28 correlate with SARS-CoV-2-neutralizing antibodies measured 7 months post-infection (⍴ = 0.4, p = 0.01). mRNA vaccination following SARS-CoV-2 infection boosts both IFNγ- and TNF-α-producing, spike-protein-specific CD4+ T cells. These data suggest that SARS-CoV-2-specific, TNF-α-producing CD4+ T cells may play an important role in antibody maintenance following COVID-19.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04331899.

Keywords: CD4; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; T cells; TNF-α; Tfh; antibodies; cytokines; longitudinal; neutralizing antibodies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Neutralizing
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes
  • COVID-19*
  • Humans
  • Outpatients
  • SARS-CoV-2*
  • T-Lymphocytes
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Substances

  • Antibodies, Neutralizing
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT04331899