Robust SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell immunity is maintained at 6 months following primary infection

Nat Immunol. 2021 May;22(5):620-626. doi: 10.1038/s41590-021-00902-8. Epub 2021 Mar 5.

Abstract

The immune response to SARS-CoV-2 is critical in controlling disease, but there is concern that waning immunity may predispose to reinfection. We analyzed the magnitude and phenotype of the SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell response in 100 donors at 6 months following infection. T cell responses were present by ELISPOT and/or intracellular cytokine staining analysis in all donors and characterized by predominant CD4+ T cell responses with strong interleukin (IL)-2 cytokine expression. Median T cell responses were 50% higher in donors who had experienced a symptomatic infection, indicating that the severity of primary infection establishes a 'set point' for cellular immunity. T cell responses to spike and nucleoprotein/membrane proteins were correlated with peak antibody levels. Furthermore, higher levels of nucleoprotein-specific T cells were associated with preservation of nucleoprotein-specific antibody level although no such correlation was observed in relation to spike-specific responses. In conclusion, our data are reassuring that functional SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell responses are retained at 6 months following infection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood
  • Antigens, Viral / immunology*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / virology
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / virology
  • COVID-19 / blood
  • COVID-19 / immunology*
  • COVID-19 / virology
  • Female
  • Host-Pathogen Interactions
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Cellular*
  • Interleukin-2 / blood
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Phenotype
  • SARS-CoV-2 / immunology*
  • SARS-CoV-2 / pathogenicity
  • Time Factors
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Antigens, Viral
  • IL2 protein, human
  • Interleukin-2