Human CD4(+) memory T-lymphocyte responses to SARS coronavirus infection

Virology. 2007 Nov 25;368(2):317-21. doi: 10.1016/j.virol.2007.07.015. Epub 2007 Aug 13.

Abstract

Little is known about CD4(+) T-cell immunity to the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus. In two SARS patients, we examined the memory CD4(+) T-cell responses to peptides derived from SARS coronavirus structural proteins. We generated CD4(+) T-cell lines to 3 peptides from the spike (S) protein and defined their HLA restriction. In one patient, the predominant memory CD4(+) T-cell response was directed against an epitope outside the S protein receptor-binding domain. In both patients, the frequency of CD4(+) memory T-cells to virus structural proteins and anti-SARS coronavirus IgG levels were low by 12 months after infection. This report expands our understanding of the specificity and duration of anti-SARS coronavirus CD4(+) T-cell immune responses.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Cell Line
  • Convalescence
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Memory / immunology*
  • Interferon-gamma / biosynthesis
  • Peptides / chemistry
  • Peptides / immunology*
  • Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / immunology*
  • Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / virology
  • Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus / immunology*
  • Viral Structural Proteins / chemistry
  • Viral Structural Proteins / immunology*

Substances

  • Peptides
  • Viral Structural Proteins
  • Interferon-gamma