TNF-α⁺ CD4⁺ T cells dominate the SARS-CoV-2 specific T cell response in COVID-19 outpatients and are associated with durable antibodies.

ABSTRACT: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-specific CD4⁺ T cells are likely important in immunity against coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19), but our understanding of CD4⁺ longitudinal dynamics following infection and of specific features that correlate with the maintenance of neutralizing antibodies remains limited. Here, we characterize SARS-CoV-2-specific CD4⁺ T cells in a longitudinal cohort of 109 COVID-19 outpatients enrolled during acute infection. The quality of the SARS-CoV-2-specific CD4⁺ response shifts from cells producing interferon gamma (IFNγ) to tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) from 5 days to 4 months post-enrollment, with IFNγ^-IL-21^-TNF-α⁺ CD4⁺ T cells the predominant popu

SUBMITTER: van der Ploeg K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9061140 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature