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A comparative analysis of TCR immune repertoire in COVID-19 patients

Xiao Zhu1, Enze Ma2, Ke Ning2

  • 1School of Computer and Control Engineering, Yantai University, Yantai, Shandong, China; Lead Contact.

Human Immunology
|April 6, 2024
PubMed

Insights

This study identified specific T cell receptor (TCR) sequences linked to SARS-CoV-2 infection in COVID-19 patients. Monitoring these TCR immune repertoires may help predict disease progression and recovery.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Virology
  • Genomics

Background:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 has highlighted gaps in understanding adaptive immunity.
  • Research on T cell receptor (TCR) bias in SARS-CoV-2 infection is limited, despite its importance in immune response.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To conduct a comparative analysis of the TCR immune repertoire in COVID-19 patients.
  • To identify specific TCR bias sequences associated with SARS-CoV-2 antigen.
  • To explore TCR preferences in different disease severities and sample types (PBMCs and BALF).

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of TCR immune repertoire in 73 symptomatic COVID-19 patients (moderate/mild and severe/critical) and 9 healthy controls.
  • Analysis of TCR sequences in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF).
  • Comparison with the VDJdb database to identify common HLA alleles.

Main Results:

  • Identified specific TCR chains (TRAV30-J34-TRBV3-1-J2-7 and TRAV12-3-J6-TRBV28-J1-1) associated with moderate and severe COVID-19, respectively.
  • The most common αβ VJ pair in BALF was TRAV12-3-J18-TRBV7-6-J2-7.
  • HLA-A*02:01 allele showed the widest distribution and highest frequency in COVID-19 patients.

Conclusions:

  • Specific TCR biases are associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection.
  • Monitoring TCR immune repertoire dynamics can serve as a biomarker for COVID-19 progression and recovery.
  • This study provides a global characterization of the TCR immune repertoire in COVID-19, enhancing understanding of SARS-CoV-2-induced TCR bias.
Keywords:
SARS-CoV-2T cell receptorTCR biasTCR immune repertoire

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