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Relationship of SARS-CoV-2-specific CD4 response to COVID-19 severity and impact of HIV-1 and tuberculosis
Catherine Riou1,2, Elsa du Bruyn1,3, Cari Stek1,3,4
1Wellcome Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Africa and Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine.
The Journal of Clinical Investigation
|May 4, 2021
Summary
T cell function, not just quantity, impacts COVID-19 severity. Severe disease correlates with reduced SARS-CoV-2 T cell polyfunctionality and proliferation, especially with HIV-1 or TB coinfection.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Infectious Diseases
- Virology
Background:
- T cells play a role in controlling COVID-19.
- Limited understanding exists regarding antigen-specific T cell responses and COVID-19 severity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between SARS-CoV-2-specific CD4+ T cell attributes and COVID-19 disease severity.
- To examine the impact of HIV-1 and/or TB coinfection on SARS-CoV-2 T cell responses.
Main Methods:
- Flow cytometry was used to analyze SARS-CoV-2-specific CD4+ T cells.
- The study included 95 hospitalized COVID-19 patients (38 coinfected with HIV-1/TB) and 38 controls.
Main Results:
- Severe COVID-19 was linked to diminished T cell polyfunctionality, proliferation, and increased HLA-DR expression.
- HIV-1 coinfection led to CD4+ T cell depletion and impaired immune responses to SARS-CoV-2.
- Active TB coinfection reduced the polyfunctional capacity of SARS-CoV-2-specific CD4+ T cells.
- COVID-19 patients showed decreased Mycobacterium tuberculosis-specific CD4+ T cells.
Conclusions:
- SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell function is critical in COVID-19 pathogenesis.
- Altered T cell functions are characteristic of severe COVID-19.
- HIV-1 and TB coinfections significantly modulate SARS-CoV-2 T cell responses and may impact disease progression.
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