tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
J Clin Invest
. 2020 Sep 23;143120.
doi: 10.1172/JCI143120. Online ahead of print.
Healthy donor T-cell responses to common cold coronaviruses and SARS-CoV-2
Bezawit A Woldemeskel[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Abena K Kwaa[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Caroline C Garliss[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Oliver Laeyendecker[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Stuart C Ray[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Joel N Blankson[SUP] 1 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
Background: The T cell responses to the common cold coronaviruses have not been well characterized. Pre-existing T cell immunity to SARS-CoV-2 has been reported, and a recent study suggested that this was due to cross-recognition of the novel coronavirus by T cells specific for the common cold coronaviruses.
Methods: We used the ELISpot assay to characterize the T cell responses against peptide pools derived from the spike protein of three common cold coronaviruses (HCoV-229E, HCoV-NL63, and HCoV-OC43) and SARS-CoV-2 in 21 healthy donors who were seronegative for SARS-CoV-2 and had no known exposure to the virus. An in vitro expansion culture assay was also used to analyze memory T cell responses.
Results: We found responses to the spike protein of the three common cold coronaviruses in many donors. We then focused on HCoV-NL63 and demonstrated broad T cell responses to the spike protein and identified 22 targeted peptides. Interestingly, only one subject had a significant response to SARS-CoV-2 spike or nucleocapsid protein in the ELISpot assay. In vitro expansion studies suggested that T cells specific for the HCoV-NL63 spike protein in this subject could also recognize SARS-CoV-2 spike protein peptide pools.
Conclusions: Healthy donors have circulating T cells specific for the spike proteins of HCoV-NL63, HCoV-229E, and HCoV-OC43. T cell responses to SARS-CoV-2 spike and nucleocapsid proteins were present in only one subject and were potentially the result of cross-recognition by T cells specific for the common cold coronaviruses. Further studies are needed to determine whether this influences COVID-19 outcomes.
Keywords: Adaptive immunity; Immunology; Infectious disease; T cells.
. 2020 Sep 23;143120.
doi: 10.1172/JCI143120. Online ahead of print.
Healthy donor T-cell responses to common cold coronaviruses and SARS-CoV-2
Bezawit A Woldemeskel[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Abena K Kwaa[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Caroline C Garliss[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Oliver Laeyendecker[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Stuart C Ray[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Joel N Blankson[SUP] 1 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 32966269
- DOI: 10.1172/JCI143120
Abstract
Background: The T cell responses to the common cold coronaviruses have not been well characterized. Pre-existing T cell immunity to SARS-CoV-2 has been reported, and a recent study suggested that this was due to cross-recognition of the novel coronavirus by T cells specific for the common cold coronaviruses.
Methods: We used the ELISpot assay to characterize the T cell responses against peptide pools derived from the spike protein of three common cold coronaviruses (HCoV-229E, HCoV-NL63, and HCoV-OC43) and SARS-CoV-2 in 21 healthy donors who were seronegative for SARS-CoV-2 and had no known exposure to the virus. An in vitro expansion culture assay was also used to analyze memory T cell responses.
Results: We found responses to the spike protein of the three common cold coronaviruses in many donors. We then focused on HCoV-NL63 and demonstrated broad T cell responses to the spike protein and identified 22 targeted peptides. Interestingly, only one subject had a significant response to SARS-CoV-2 spike or nucleocapsid protein in the ELISpot assay. In vitro expansion studies suggested that T cells specific for the HCoV-NL63 spike protein in this subject could also recognize SARS-CoV-2 spike protein peptide pools.
Conclusions: Healthy donors have circulating T cells specific for the spike proteins of HCoV-NL63, HCoV-229E, and HCoV-OC43. T cell responses to SARS-CoV-2 spike and nucleocapsid proteins were present in only one subject and were potentially the result of cross-recognition by T cells specific for the common cold coronaviruses. Further studies are needed to determine whether this influences COVID-19 outcomes.
Keywords: Adaptive immunity; Immunology; Infectious disease; T cells.