Mapping and role of T cell response in SARS-CoV-2–infected mice

Z Zhuang, X Lai, J Sun, Z Chen, Z Zhang… - Journal of Experimental …, 2021 - rupress.org
Z Zhuang, X Lai, J Sun, Z Chen, Z Zhang, J Dai, D Liu, Y Li, F Li, Y Wang, A Zhu, J Wang…
Journal of Experimental Medicine, 2021rupress.org
Virus-specific T cells play essential roles in protection against multiple virus infections,
including SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV. While SARS-CoV-2–specific T cells have been
identified in COVID-19 patients, their role in the protection of SARS-CoV-2–infected mice is
not established. Here, using mice sensitized for infection with SARS-CoV-2 by transduction
with an adenovirus expressing the human receptor (Ad5-hACE2), we identified SARS-CoV-
2–specific T cell epitopes recognized by CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in BALB/c and C57BL/6 …
Virus-specific T cells play essential roles in protection against multiple virus infections, including SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV. While SARS-CoV-2–specific T cells have been identified in COVID-19 patients, their role in the protection of SARS-CoV-2–infected mice is not established. Here, using mice sensitized for infection with SARS-CoV-2 by transduction with an adenovirus expressing the human receptor (Ad5-hACE2), we identified SARS-CoV-2–specific T cell epitopes recognized by CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice. Virus-specific T cells were polyfunctional and were able to lyse target cells in vivo. Further, type I interferon pathway was proved to be critical for generating optimal antiviral T cell responses after SARS-CoV-2 infection. T cell vaccination alone partially protected SARS-CoV-2–infected mice from severe disease. In addition, the results demonstrated cross-reactive T cell responses between SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2, but not MERS-CoV, in mice. Understanding the role of the T cell response will guide immunopathogenesis studies of COVID-19 and vaccine design and validation.
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