tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Sci Rep
. 2020 Dec 8;10(1):21447.
doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-78506-9.
Older adults lack SARS CoV-2 cross-reactive T lymphocytes directed to human coronaviruses OC43 and NL63
Giulietta Saletti[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Thomas Gerlach[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Janina M Jansen[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Antonia Molle[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Husni Elbahesh[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Martin Ludlow[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Wentao Li[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Berend-Jan Bosch[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Albert D M E Osterhaus[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Guus F Rimmelzwaan[SUP] 3 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
Currently, infections with SARS-Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of the COVID-19 pandemic, are responsible for substantial morbidity and mortality worldwide. Older adults subjects > 60 years of age account for > 95% of the over one million fatal cases reported to date. It is unclear why in this age group SARS-CoV-2 infection causes more severe disease than in young adults. We hypothesized that differences in SARS-CoV-2 cross-reactive cellular immunity induced after infection with human coronaviruses (HCoVs), like OC43 and NL63, were at the basis of the differential mortality (and morbidity) observed after SARS-CoV-2 infection, because a small proportion of HCoV-specific T cells cross-react with SARS-CoV-2. Our data demonstrate that pre-existing T cell immunity induced by circulating human alpha- and beta-HCoVs is present in young adult individuals, but virtually absent in older adult subjects. Consequently, the frequency of cross-reactive T cells directed to the novel pandemic SARS-CoV-2 was minimal in most older adults. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that the presence of cross-reactive T cells to SARS-CoV-2 is compared in young and older adults. Our findings provide at least a partial explanation for the more severe clinical outcome of SARS-CoV-2 infection observed in the elderly. Moreover, this information could help to design efficacious vaccines for this age group, aiming at the induction of cell-mediated immunity.
. 2020 Dec 8;10(1):21447.
doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-78506-9.
Older adults lack SARS CoV-2 cross-reactive T lymphocytes directed to human coronaviruses OC43 and NL63
Giulietta Saletti[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Thomas Gerlach[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Janina M Jansen[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Antonia Molle[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Husni Elbahesh[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Martin Ludlow[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Wentao Li[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Berend-Jan Bosch[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Albert D M E Osterhaus[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Guus F Rimmelzwaan[SUP] 3 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 33293664
- DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-78506-9
Abstract
Currently, infections with SARS-Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of the COVID-19 pandemic, are responsible for substantial morbidity and mortality worldwide. Older adults subjects > 60 years of age account for > 95% of the over one million fatal cases reported to date. It is unclear why in this age group SARS-CoV-2 infection causes more severe disease than in young adults. We hypothesized that differences in SARS-CoV-2 cross-reactive cellular immunity induced after infection with human coronaviruses (HCoVs), like OC43 and NL63, were at the basis of the differential mortality (and morbidity) observed after SARS-CoV-2 infection, because a small proportion of HCoV-specific T cells cross-react with SARS-CoV-2. Our data demonstrate that pre-existing T cell immunity induced by circulating human alpha- and beta-HCoVs is present in young adult individuals, but virtually absent in older adult subjects. Consequently, the frequency of cross-reactive T cells directed to the novel pandemic SARS-CoV-2 was minimal in most older adults. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that the presence of cross-reactive T cells to SARS-CoV-2 is compared in young and older adults. Our findings provide at least a partial explanation for the more severe clinical outcome of SARS-CoV-2 infection observed in the elderly. Moreover, this information could help to design efficacious vaccines for this age group, aiming at the induction of cell-mediated immunity.