Dysregulation of homeostatic cytokine receptors drives prolonged T cell activation following acute SARS-CoV-2 infection in humans.

ABSTRACT: Acute viral infections are usually cleared by an efficient anti-pathogen immune response, following which immune homeostasis is restored. Occasionally, such pathogen-induced immune response fails to abate despite clinical recovery, but how this occurs in humans has not been thoroughly investigated. Here, we perform a detailed analysis of T cell homeostasis following severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, which reveals persistent activation and dyshomeostasis of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells for 6-12 months after acute infection. Compared to steady-state and unlike T cell responses following vaccination, interleukin (IL)-2 receptor and IL-7 receptor expression remains altered on both SARS-CoV-2-specific and bystander T cells for 6-12 months aft

SUBMITTER: Ceglarek L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12748759 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature