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Altered pre-existing SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell responses in elderly individuals.
- Source :
-
Clinical immunology communications [Clin Immunol Commun] 2022 Dec; Vol. 2, pp. 6-11. Date of Electronic Publication: 2021 Dec 23. - Publication Year :
- 2022
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Abstract
- Pre-existing SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells, but not antibodies, have been detected in some unexposed individuals. This may account for some of the diversity in clinical outcomes ranging from asymptomatic infection to severe COVID-19. Although age is a risk factor for COVID-19, how age affects SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell responses remains unknown. We found that pre-existing T cell responses to specific SARS-CoV-2 proteins, Spike (S) and Nucleoprotein (N), were significantly lower in elderly donors (>70 years old) than in young donors. However, substantial pre-existing T cell responses to the viral membrane (M) protein were detected in both young and elderly donors. In contrast, young and elderly donors exhibited comparable T cell responses to S, N, and M proteins after infection with SARS-CoV-2. These data suggest that although SARS-CoV-2 infection can induce T cell responses specific to various viral antigens regardless of age, diversity of target antigen repertoire for long-lived memory T cells specific for SARS-CoV-2 may decline with age; however, memory T cell responses can be maintained by T cells reactive to specific viral proteins such as M. A better understanding of the role of pre-existing SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells that are less susceptible to age-related loss may contribute to development of more effective vaccines for elderly people.<br /> (© 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc.)
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 2772-6134
- Volume :
- 2
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Clinical immunology communications
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 38621014
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clicom.2021.12.001