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2021 Loyal et al science.abh1823 (1).pdf (7.74 MB)

Cross-reactive CD4+ T cells enhance SARS-CoV-2 immune responses upon infection and vaccination

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posted on 2023-06-10, 00:58 authored by Lucie Loyal, Julian Braun, Larissa Henze, Beate Kruse, Manuela Dingeldey, Ulf Reimert, Florian KernFlorian Kern, Tatjana Schwarz, Maike Mangold, Clara Unger, Friederike Dörfler, Shirin Kadler, Jennifer Rosowski, Kübrah Gürcan, Zehra Uyar-Aydin, others
The functional relevance of pre-existing cross-immunity to SARS-CoV-2 is a subject of intense debate. Here, we show that human endemic coronavirus (HCoV)-reactive and SARS-CoV-2-cross-reactive CD4+ T cells are ubiquitous but decrease with age. We identified a universal immunodominant coronavirus-specific spike peptide (S816-830) and demonstrate that pre-existing spike- and S816-830-reactive T cells were recruited into immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection and their frequency correlated with anti-SARS-CoV-2-S1-IgG antibodies. Spike-cross-reactive T cells were also activated after primary BNT162b2 COVID-19 mRNA vaccination displaying kinetics similar to secondary immune responses. Our results highlight the functional contribution of pre-existing spike-cross-reactive T cells in SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination. Cross-reactive immunity may account for the unexpectedly rapid induction of immunity following primary SARS-CoV-2 immunization and the high rate of asymptomatic/mild COVID-19 disease courses.

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Published version

Journal

Science

ISSN

1095-9203

Publisher

American Association for the Advancement of Science

Page range

1-18

Department affiliated with

  • Clinical and Experimental Medicine Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2021-09-15

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2021-09-15

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2021-09-14

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