A better understanding of the role of T cells in the immune response to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is helpful not only for vaccine development but also for the treatment of COVID-19 patients. In this study, we determined the existence of SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells in the blood of COVID-19 convalescents. Meanwhile, the specific T cell response in the non-RBD region was stronger than in the RBD region. We also found that SARS-CoV-2 S-specific reactive CD4 + T cells exhibited higher frequency than CD8 + T cells in recovered COVID-19 patients, with greater number of corresponding epitopes presented. Importantly, we isolated the SARS-CoV-2-specific CD4 + T cell receptors (TCRs) and inserted the TCRs into allogenic CD4 + T cells. These TCR-T cells can be activated by SARS-CoV-2 spike peptide and produce IFN-γ in vitro . These results might provide valuable information for the development of vaccines and new therapies against COVID-19.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, TCR-T, TCR, T cell epitope, 【초록키워드】 Treatment, Vaccine, Vaccine development, immune response, therapy, T cells, in vitro, CD4, CD8, coronavirus 2, T cell, respiratory, information, epitope, T cell receptor, T cell response, COVID-19 patients, Blood, IFN-γ, Recovered COVID-19 patients, Frequency, TCRs, Cell, reactive, greater, exhibited, activated, the RBD, SARS-CoV-2 spike peptide, SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell, 【제목키워드】 spike, coronavirus 2, respiratory, identification,