SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell memory is sustained in COVID-19 convalescent patients for 10 months with successful development of stem cell-like memory T cells.

ABSTRACT: Memory T cells contribute to rapid viral clearance during re-infection, but the longevity and differentiation of SARS-CoV-2-specific memory T cells remain unclear. Here we conduct ex vivo assays to evaluate SARS-CoV-2-specific CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cell responses in COVID-19 convalescent patients up to 317 days post-symptom onset (DPSO), and find that memory T cell responses are maintained during the study period regardless of the severity of COVID-19. In particular, we observe sustained polyfunctionality and proliferation capacity of SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells. Among SARS-CoV-2-specific CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells detected by activation-induced markers, the proportion of stem cell-like memory T (T_SCM) cells is increased, peaking at approximately

SUBMITTER: Jung JH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8245549 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature