SARS-CoV-2-specific CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cell responses can originate from cross-reactive CMV-specific T cells.

ABSTRACT: Detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) specific CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells in SARS-CoV-2-unexposed donors has been explained by the presence of T cells primed by other coronaviruses. However, based on the relatively high frequency and prevalence of cross-reactive T cells, we hypothesized cytomegalovirus (CMV) may induce these cross-reactive T cells. Stimulation of pre-pandemic cryo-preserved peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) with SARS-CoV-2 peptides revealed that frequencies of SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells were higher in CMV-seropositive donors. Characterization of these T cells demonstrated that membrane-specific CD4⁺ and spike-specific CD8⁺ T cells originate from cross-reactive CMV-specific T cells. Spike-s

SUBMITTER: Pothast CR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9822249 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature