Back to Search
Start Over
SARS-CoV-2-specific circulating T follicular helper cells correlate with neutralizing antibodies and increase during early convalescence.
- Source :
-
PLoS pathogens [PLoS Pathog] 2021 Jul 16; Vol. 17 (7), pp. e1009761. Date of Electronic Publication: 2021 Jul 16 (Print Publication: 2021). - Publication Year :
- 2021
-
Abstract
- T-cell immunity is likely to play a role in protection against SARS-CoV-2 by helping generate neutralizing antibodies. We longitudinally studied CD4 T-cell responses to the M, N, and S structural proteins of SARS-CoV-2 in 26 convalescent individuals. Within the first two months following symptom onset, a majority of individuals (81%) mounted at least one CD4 T-cell response, and 48% of individuals mounted detectable SARS-CoV-2-specific circulating T follicular helper cells (cTfh, defined as CXCR5+PD1+ CD4 T cells). SARS-CoV-2-specific cTfh responses across all three protein specificities correlated with antibody neutralization with the strongest correlation observed for S protein-specific responses. When examined over time, cTfh responses, particularly to the M protein, increased in convalescence, and robust cTfh responses with magnitudes greater than 5% were detected at the second convalescent visit, a median of 38 days post-symptom onset. CD4 T-cell responses declined but persisted at low magnitudes three months and six months after symptom onset. These data deepen our understanding of antigen-specific cTfh responses in SARS-CoV-2 infection, suggesting that in addition to S protein, M and N protein-specific cTfh may also assist in the development of neutralizing antibodies and that cTfh response formation may be delayed in SARS-CoV-2 infection.<br />Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
- Subjects :
- Adult
Aged
Antibody Specificity
Case-Control Studies
Coronavirus Nucleocapsid Proteins immunology
Female
Host Microbial Interactions immunology
Humans
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Middle Aged
Pandemics
Phosphoproteins immunology
Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus immunology
Time Factors
Viral Matrix Proteins immunology
Young Adult
Antibodies, Neutralizing blood
Antibodies, Viral blood
COVID-19 immunology
COVID-19 virology
SARS-CoV-2 immunology
T Follicular Helper Cells immunology
T Follicular Helper Cells virology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1553-7374
- Volume :
- 17
- Issue :
- 7
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- PLoS pathogens
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 34270631
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1009761