Suboptimal SARS-CoV-2-specific CD8⁺ T cell response associated with the prominent HLA-A*02:01 phenotype.

ABSTRACT: An improved understanding of human T cell-mediated immunity in COVID-19 is important for optimizing therapeutic and vaccine strategies. Experience with influenza shows that infection primes CD8⁺ T cell memory to peptides presented by common HLA types like HLA-A2, which enhances recovery and diminishes clinical severity upon reinfection. Stimulating peripheral blood mononuclear cells from COVID-19 convalescent patients with overlapping peptides from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) led to the clonal expansion of SARS-CoV-2-specific CD8⁺ and CD4⁺ T cells in vitro, with CD4⁺ T cells being robust. We identified two HLA-A*02:01-restricted SARS-CoV-2-specfic CD8⁺ T cell epitopes, A2/S_269-277 and A2/Orf1

SUBMITTER: Habel JR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7533701 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature