Rapid induction of antigen-specific CD4⁺ T cells is associated with coordinated humoral and cellular immunity to SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination.

ABSTRACT: SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines have shown remarkable clinical efficacy, but questions remain about the nature and kinetics of T cell priming. We performed longitudinal antigen-specific T cell analyses on healthy SARS-CoV-2-naive and recovered individuals prior to and following mRNA prime and boost vaccination. Vaccination induced rapid antigen-specific CD4⁺ T cell responses in naive subjects after the first dose, whereas CD8⁺ T cell responses developed gradually and were variable in magnitude. Vaccine-induced Th1 and Tfh cell responses following the first dose correlated with post-boost CD8⁺ T cells and neutralizing antibodies, respectively. Integrated analysis revealed coordinated immune responses with distinct trajectories in SARS-CoV-2-naive and recovered individuals. Last, whereas booster vaccination improved T cell responses in SARS-CoV-2-naive subjects, the second dose had little effect in SARS-CoV-2-recovered individuals. These findings highlight the role of rapidly primed CD4⁺ T cells in coordinating responses to the second vaccine dose in SARS-CoV-2-naive individuals.

SUBMITTER: Painter MM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8361141 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature