Abstract
This study analyzed whole blood samples ( n = 56) retrieved from 30 patients at 1 to 21 (median 9) mo after verified COVID-19 to determine the polarity and duration of antigen-specific T cell reactivity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2-derived antigens. Multimeric peptides spanning the entire nucleocapsid protein triggered strikingly synchronous formation of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-12, IL-13, and IL-17 ex vivo until ∼70 d after confirmed infection, whereafter this reactivity was no longer inducible. In contrast, levels of nucleocapsid-induced IL-2 and interferon-γ remained stable and highly correlated at 3 to 21 mo after infection. Similar cytokine dynamics were observed in unvaccinated, convalescent patients using whole-blood samples stimulated with peptides spanning the N-terminal portion of the spike 1 protein. These results unravel two phases of T cell reactivity following natural COVID-19: an early, synchronous response indicating transient presence of multipolar, antigen-specific T helper (T H ) cells followed by an equally synchronous and durable T H 1-like reactivity reflecting long-lasting T cell memory.
Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; T cell cytokines; T helper cells; longevity.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, T cell cytokines, T helper cells, longevity., 【초록키워드】 coronavirus, Cytokines, Infection, interferon, peptide, cytokine, severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus, nucleocapsid protein, Antigen, Protein, T cell, Convalescent patients, interleukin, Patient, peptides, antigens, respiratory, Longevity, synchronous, convalescent patient, IL-2, T helper cells, IL-13, IL-17, followed by, Polarity, Ex vivo, interferon-γ, T helper, acute respiratory syndrome, acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus, IL-12, T cell memory, N-terminal, Cell, whole blood sample, stimulated, analyzed, remained, median, determine, long-lasting, correlated, triggered, reactivity, retrieved, 【제목키워드】 Transient, reactivity,