tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Clin Microbiol Infect
. 2021 Apr 1;S1198-743X(21)00145-2.
doi: 10.1016/j.cmi.2021.03.010. Online ahead of print.
SARS-CoV-2 specific T cell immunity in COVID-19 convalescent patients and unexposed controls measured by ex-vivo ELISpot assay
Irene Cassaniti[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Elena Percivalle[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Federica Bergami[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Antonio Piralla[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Giuditta Comolli[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Raffaele Bruno[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Marco Vecchia[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Margherita Sambo[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Marta Colaneri[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Valentina Zuccaro[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Marco Benazzo[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Carlo Robotti[SUP] 7 [/SUP], Anna Calastri[SUP] 7 [/SUP], Eugenia Maiorano[SUP] 7 [/SUP], Alessandro Ferrari[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Giuseppe Cambi?[SUP] 8 [/SUP], Fausto Baldanti[SUP] 9 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
Objectives: SARS-CoV-2 T-cell response characterization represents a crucial issue for defining the role of immune protection against COVID-19. The aim of the study was to assess the SARS-CoV-2 T-cell response in a cohort of COVID-19 convalescent patients' and in a group of unexposed subjects.
Methods: SARS-CoV-2 T-cell response was quantified from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of 87 COVID19 convalescent subjects (range 7-239 days after symptoms' onset) and 33 unexposed donors by ex-vivo ELISpot assay. Follow-up of SARS-CoV-2 T-cell response was performed in 10 subjects up to 12 months after symptoms' onset. The role of SARS-CoV-2 specific CD4 and CD8 T cells was characterized in a group of COVID-19 convalescent subjects. Moreover, neutralizing antibodies were determined in serum samples.
Results: In 14/33 (42.4%) unexposed donors and 85/87 (97.7%) COVID-19 convalescent subjects a positive result for at least one SARS-CoV-2 antigen was observed. A positive response was observed up to 12 months after COVID-19 infection (median 246 days after symptoms' onset; range 118-362 days). Of note, SARS-CoV-2 T-cell response seems to be mainly mediated by CD4 T cells. A weak positive correlation was observed between Spike-specific T-cell response and neutralizing antibody titre (p=0.0028; r[SUP]2[/SUP]=0.2891) and positive SARS-CoV-2 T-cell response was observed in 8/9 (88.9%) COVID-19 convalescent subjects with undetectable SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies.
Conclusions: Cross-reactive SARS-CoV-2 T-cell response in uninfected patients may be due to previous infections with other common coronaviruses. Our data suggest that long-term SARS-CoV-2 T-cell response might accompany a waning humoral response.
Keywords: ELISpot; Neutralizing antibodies; SARS-CoV-2; T-cell response.
. 2021 Apr 1;S1198-743X(21)00145-2.
doi: 10.1016/j.cmi.2021.03.010. Online ahead of print.
SARS-CoV-2 specific T cell immunity in COVID-19 convalescent patients and unexposed controls measured by ex-vivo ELISpot assay
Irene Cassaniti[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Elena Percivalle[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Federica Bergami[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Antonio Piralla[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Giuditta Comolli[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Raffaele Bruno[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Marco Vecchia[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Margherita Sambo[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Marta Colaneri[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Valentina Zuccaro[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Marco Benazzo[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Carlo Robotti[SUP] 7 [/SUP], Anna Calastri[SUP] 7 [/SUP], Eugenia Maiorano[SUP] 7 [/SUP], Alessandro Ferrari[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Giuseppe Cambi?[SUP] 8 [/SUP], Fausto Baldanti[SUP] 9 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 33813122
- DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2021.03.010
Abstract
Objectives: SARS-CoV-2 T-cell response characterization represents a crucial issue for defining the role of immune protection against COVID-19. The aim of the study was to assess the SARS-CoV-2 T-cell response in a cohort of COVID-19 convalescent patients' and in a group of unexposed subjects.
Methods: SARS-CoV-2 T-cell response was quantified from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of 87 COVID19 convalescent subjects (range 7-239 days after symptoms' onset) and 33 unexposed donors by ex-vivo ELISpot assay. Follow-up of SARS-CoV-2 T-cell response was performed in 10 subjects up to 12 months after symptoms' onset. The role of SARS-CoV-2 specific CD4 and CD8 T cells was characterized in a group of COVID-19 convalescent subjects. Moreover, neutralizing antibodies were determined in serum samples.
Results: In 14/33 (42.4%) unexposed donors and 85/87 (97.7%) COVID-19 convalescent subjects a positive result for at least one SARS-CoV-2 antigen was observed. A positive response was observed up to 12 months after COVID-19 infection (median 246 days after symptoms' onset; range 118-362 days). Of note, SARS-CoV-2 T-cell response seems to be mainly mediated by CD4 T cells. A weak positive correlation was observed between Spike-specific T-cell response and neutralizing antibody titre (p=0.0028; r[SUP]2[/SUP]=0.2891) and positive SARS-CoV-2 T-cell response was observed in 8/9 (88.9%) COVID-19 convalescent subjects with undetectable SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies.
Conclusions: Cross-reactive SARS-CoV-2 T-cell response in uninfected patients may be due to previous infections with other common coronaviruses. Our data suggest that long-term SARS-CoV-2 T-cell response might accompany a waning humoral response.
Keywords: ELISpot; Neutralizing antibodies; SARS-CoV-2; T-cell response.