Abstract
CD8 + T cells can potentiate long-lived immunity against COVID-19. We screened longitudinally-sampled convalescent human donors against SARS-CoV-2 tetramers and identified a participant with an immunodominant response against residues 322 to 311 of nucleocapsid (Nuc 322-331 ), a peptide conserved in all variants of concern reported to date. We conducted 38-parameter cytometry by time of flight on tetramer-identified Nuc 322-331 -specific CD8 + T cells and on CD4 + and CD8 + T cells recognizing the entire nucleocapsid and spike proteins, and took 32 serological measurements. We discovered a coordination of the Nuc 322-331 -specific CD8 + T response with both the CD4 + T cell and Ab pillars of adaptive immunity. Over the approximately six month period of convalescence monitored, we observed a slow and progressive decrease in the activation state and polyfunctionality of Nuc 322-331 -specific CD8 + T cells, accompanied by an increase in their lymph node-homing and homeostatic proliferation potential. These results suggest that following a typical case of mild COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2-specific CD8 + T cells not only persist but continuously differentiate in a coordinated fashion well into convalescence into a state characteristic of long-lived, self-renewing memory.
【초록키워드】 COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Adaptive immunity, adaptive, Immunity, T cells, variants of concern, peptide, CD4, CD8, memory, T cell, nucleocapsid, Mild, convalescence, convalescent, coordination, characteristic, Spike proteins, Cytometry, proliferation, Activation, residue, participant, residues, flight, tetramer, immunodominant, over, serological measurements, decrease, conserved, reported, conducted, screened, increase in, recognizing, accompanied, homeostatic, human donor, Nuc, 【제목키워드】 CD8, differentiation,