Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 20, 2025
10:09
Characterization of Immune Cell-derived Extracellular Vesicles and Studying Functional Impact on Cell Environment
Published on: June 2, 2020
6.9K
Extracellular vesicles in COVID-19 convalescence can regulate T cell metabolism and function
Molly S George1, Jenifer Sanchez1, Christina Rollings2
1Department of Infectious Diseases, School of Immunology and Microbial Sciences, King's College London, London SE1 9RT, UK.
Iscience
|July 31, 2023
Summary
Extracellular vesicles (EV) from COVID-19 patients alter T cell function post-infection. Mild COVID-19 EV exhibit immune-suppressive traits, impacting T cell metabolism and cytokine production, suggesting a role in long-term immune modulation.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Virology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Long-term T cell dysregulation is observed after COVID-19.
- Prolonged T cell activation correlates with disease severity and may contribute to long COVID symptoms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of extracellular vesicles (EV) in modulating T cell function weeks after COVID-19 infection.
- To determine if EV characteristics and functions differ based on initial COVID-19 severity.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of EV origin and protein content from COVID-19 convalescents.
- Assessment of EV impact on CD4 and CD8 T cell function and metabolism.
- Investigation of EV-surface ICAM-1 involvement in EV-T cell interactions.
Main Results:
- EV alterations in convalescence are linked to initial COVID-19 severity.
- Convalescent EV modify T cell function and metabolic rewiring.
- EV from mild COVID-19 cases display immune-suppressive properties, reducing T cell cytokine production and glucose metabolism, unlike those from severe cases.
Conclusions:
- Circulating EV exhibit altered phenotype and function weeks post-COVID-19 infection.
- EV act as long-term immune modulators following SARS-CoV-2 infection.
- EV-surface ICAM-1 mediates EV-T cell interactions.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:29Immune Response Against Viral Pathogens
826
The immune system's response to viral infections is a complex and coordinated process involving natural killer (NK) cells, T cell-mediated responses, and antibody-mediated responses.
NK Cells
NK cells are a crucial part of our innate immune system, acting as the first line of defense against viral infections. These cells can recognize and kill infected cells without prior exposure to the virus, effectively slowing down the spread of infection. Additionally, NK cells produce proinflammatory...
NK Cells
NK cells are a crucial part of our innate immune system, acting as the first line of defense against viral infections. These cells can recognize and kill infected cells without prior exposure to the virus, effectively slowing down the spread of infection. Additionally, NK cells produce proinflammatory...
826
01:36Overview of Exosomes
2.8K
Exosomes are stable, lipid bilayer-enclosed vesicles capable of crossing biological barriers. They can carry a wide range of molecules required for intercellular communication. Once exosomes are released from the cell where they originated, they enter a recipient cell through various pathways such as fusion, receptor-mediated endocytosis, macropinocytosis, and phagocytosis.
Stahl et al. discovered exosomes in 1983, but the exosomes were initially considered waste products released from the...
Stahl et al. discovered exosomes in 1983, but the exosomes were initially considered waste products released from the...
2.8K
01:24T Cell Types and Functions
1.1K
When T cells with CD4 markers are activated, they give rise to two types of effector cells: helper T cells and regulatory T cells. Meanwhile, T cells with CD8 markers differentiate into effector cytotoxic T cells. The differentiation of CD4 T cells into helper T cell subsets, such as Th1, Th2, and Th17 cells, is dependent on the antigen type, antigen-presenting cell, and regulatory cytokines.
Th1 cells stimulate dendritic cells to express necessary co-stimulatory molecules on their surfaces for...
Th1 cells stimulate dendritic cells to express necessary co-stimulatory molecules on their surfaces for...
1.1K
01:22T Cell Activation and Clonal Selection
812
T cells are integral to our adaptive immune system, recognizing and effectively responding to foreign antigens. T cell activation and clonal selection are pivotal in orchestrating this immune response. This article elucidates these mechanisms, detailing the roles of cluster of differentiation (CD) markers, major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules, costimulatory signals, and the process of clonal selection.
Naive T cells that have not yet encountered an antigen express two primary CD...
Naive T cells that have not yet encountered an antigen express two primary CD...
812
01:40Cell-mediated Immune Responses
68.9K
Overview
68.9K
01:27Cytotoxic T Cells-mediated Immune Response
972
Cytotoxic T cells are a vital component of the immune system. They have the remarkable ability to identify and target antigens on infected or abnormal cells. These antigens often originate from intracellular pathogens such as viruses or abnormal proteins cancer cells produce.
Immunological surveillance is the ability of immune cells to monitor and eliminate infected cells with intracellular pathogens, neoplastically transformed cells, and cells with non-self antigens. Cytotoxic T cells and NK...
Immunological surveillance is the ability of immune cells to monitor and eliminate infected cells with intracellular pathogens, neoplastically transformed cells, and cells with non-self antigens. Cytotoxic T cells and NK...
972