Open AccessSevere SARS‐CoV‐2 patients develop a higher specific T‐cell response
Author(s) -
Demaret Julie,
Lefèvre Guillaume,
Vuotto Fanny,
Trauet Jacques,
Duhamel Alain,
Labreuche Julien,
Varlet Pauline,
Dendooven Arnaud,
Stabler Sarah,
Gachet Benoit,
Bauer Jules,
Prevost Brigitte,
Bocket Laurence,
Alidjinou Enag Kazali,
Lambert Marc,
Yelnik Cécile,
Meresse Bertrand,
Dubuquoy Laurent,
Launay David,
Dubucquoi Sylvain,
Montaigne David,
Woitrain Eloise,
Maggiotto François,
Bou Saleh Mohamed,
Top Isabelle,
Elsermans Vincent,
Jeanpierre Emmanuelle,
Dupont Annabelle,
Susen Sophie,
Brousseau Thierry,
Poissy Julien,
Faure Karine,
Labalette Myriam
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
clinical and translational immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.321
H-Index - 34
ISSN - 2050-0068
DOI - 10.1002/cti2.1217
Subject(s) - elispot , immunology , immune system , t cell , antigen , interquartile range , antibody , medicine , virology , biology
Abstract Objectives Assessment of the adaptive immune response against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) is crucial for studying long‐term immunity and vaccine strategies. We quantified IFNγ‐secreting T cells reactive against the main viral SARS‐CoV‐2 antigens using a standardised enzyme‐linked immunospot assay (ELISpot). Methods Overlapping peptide pools built from the sequences of M, N and S viral proteins and a mix (MNS) were used as antigens. Using IFNγ T‐CoV‐Spot assay, we assessed T‐cell and antibody responses in mild, moderate and severe SARS‐CoV‐2 patients and in control samples collected before the outbreak. Results Specific T cells were assessed in 60 consecutive patients (mild, n = 26; moderate, n = 10; and severe patients, n = 24) during their follow‐up (median time from symptom onset [interquartile range]: 36 days [28;53]). T cells against M, N and S peptide pools were detected in n = 60 (100%), n = 56 (93.3%), n = 55 patients (91.7%), respectively. Using the MNS mix, IFNγ T‐CoV‐Spot assay showed a specificity of 96.7% (95% CI, 88.5–99.6%) and a specificity of 90.3% (75.2–98.0%). The frequency of reactive T cells observed with M, S and MNS mix pools correlated with severity and with levels of anti‐S1 and anti‐RBD serum antibodies. Conclusion IFNγ T‐CoV‐Spot assay is a reliable method to explore specific T cells in large cohorts of patients. This test may become a useful tool to assess the long‐lived memory T‐cell response after vaccination. Our study demonstrates that SARS‐CoV‐2 patients developing a severe disease achieve a higher adaptive immune response.