SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells exhibit unique features characterized by robust helper function, lack of terminal differentiation, and high proliferative potential

Neidleman, J.; Luo, X.; Frouard, J.; Xie, G.; Gurjot, G.; Stein, E. S.; McGregor, M.; Ma, T.; George, A.; Kosters, A.; Greene, W. C.; Vasquez, J.; Ghosn, E.; Lee, S.; Roan, N. R.

doi:10.1101/2020.06.08.138826

bioRxiv · 10.1101/2020.06.08.138826

SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells exhibit unique features characterized by robust helper function, lack of terminal differentiation, and high proliferative potential

Neidleman, J.·Luo, X.·Frouard, J.·Xie, G.·Gurjot, G.·Stein, E. S.·McGregor, M.·Ma, T.·George, A.·Kosters, A.·Greene, W. C.·Vasquez, J.·Ghosn, E.·Lee, S.·Roan, N. R.

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Abstract

Convalescing COVID-19 patients mount robust T cell responses against SARS-CoV-2, suggesting an important role for T cells in viral clearance. To date, the phenotypes of SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells remain poorly defined. Using 38-parameter CyTOF, we phenotyped longitudinal specimens of SARS-CoV-2-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells from nine individuals who recovered from mild COVID-19. SARS-CoV-2-specific CD4+ T cells were exclusively Th1 cells, and predominantly Tcm with phenotypic features of robust helper function. SARS-CoV-2-specific CD8+ T cells were predominantly Temra cells in a state of less terminal differentiation than most Temra cells. Subsets of SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells express CD127, can homeostatically proliferate, and can persist for over two months. Our results suggest that long-lived and robust T cell immunity is generated following natural SARS-CoV-2 infection, and support an important role for SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells in host control of COVID-19.

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Neidleman, J., Luo, X., Frouard, J., Xie, G., Gurjot, G., Stein, E. S., McGregor, M., Ma, T., George, A., Kosters, A., Greene, W. C., Vasquez, J., Ghosn, E., Lee, S., Roan, N. R.. 2020-06-08. SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells exhibit unique features characterized by robust helper function, lack of terminal differentiation, and high proliferative potential. https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.06.08.138826

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