Mucosal-Associated Invariant T Cells are not susceptible in vitro to SARS-CoV-2 infection but accumulate into the lungs of COVID-19 patients.

ABSTRACT: Prolonged T cell lymphopenia is common in COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2. While the mechanisms of lymphopenia during COVID-19 remain elusive, it is especially pronounced in a specialized innate-like T cell population called Mucosal Associated Invariant T cells (MAITs). MAITs has been suggested to express Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2), which is the well-known cellular receptor for SARS-CoV-2. However, it is still unclear if SARS-CoV-2 can infect or affect MAIT cells directly. In this study, we performed multicolor flow cytometry on peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained from COVID-19 patients to assess the frequencies of CD8⁺Vα7.2⁺CD161⁺ MAIT subsets at acute and convalescent disease phases. The susceptibility of MAITs and T cells to direct exp

SUBMITTER: Huang X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10826420 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature