Identification of resident memory CD8⁺ T cells with functional specificity for SARS-CoV-2 in unexposed oropharyngeal lymphoid tissue.

ABSTRACT: Cross-reactive CD4⁺ T cells that recognize severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are more commonly detected in the peripheral blood of unexposed individuals compared with SARS-CoV-2–reactive CD8⁺ T cells. However, large numbers of memory CD8⁺ T cells reside in tissues, feasibly harboring localized SARS-CoV-2–specific immune responses. To test this idea, we performed a comprehensive functional and phenotypic analysis of virus-specific T cells in tonsils, a major lymphoid tissue site in the upper respiratory tract, and matched peripheral blood samples obtained from children and adults before the emergence of COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019). We found that SARS-CoV-2–specific memory CD4⁺ T cells could be found at similar fr

SUBMITTER: Niessl J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10763663 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature