Post by Nadica (She/Her) on Jul 3, 2024 8:54:08 GMT
Spheromers reveal robust T cell responses to the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine and attenuated peripheral CD8+ T cell responses post SARS-CoV-2 infection - Published Mar 15, 2023
Highlights
• CD8+ and CD4+ T cell responses characterized using SARS-CoV-2 pMHC spheromers
• CD8+ and CD4+ T cell response kinetics are decoupled after mRNA vaccination
• Reduced peripheral CD8+ T cell responses after infection compared with mRNA vaccination
• Previous exposure limits peripheral CD8+ T cell responses after mRNA vaccination
Summary
T cells are a critical component of the response to SARS-CoV-2, but their kinetics after infection and vaccination are insufficiently understood. Using “spheromer” peptide-MHC multimer reagents, we analyzed healthy subjects receiving two doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech BNT162b2 vaccine. Vaccination resulted in robust spike-specific T cell responses for the dominant CD4+ (HLA-DRB1∗15:01/S191) and CD8+ (HLA-A∗02/S691) T cell epitopes. Antigen-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses were asynchronous, with the peak CD4+ T cell responses occurring 1 week post the second vaccination (boost), whereas CD8+ T cells peaked 2 weeks later. These peripheral T cell responses were elevated compared with COVID-19 patients. We also found that previous SARS-CoV-2 infection resulted in decreased CD8+ T cell activation and expansion, suggesting that previous infection can influence the T cell response to vaccination.
Graphical abstract
Highlights
• CD8+ and CD4+ T cell responses characterized using SARS-CoV-2 pMHC spheromers
• CD8+ and CD4+ T cell response kinetics are decoupled after mRNA vaccination
• Reduced peripheral CD8+ T cell responses after infection compared with mRNA vaccination
• Previous exposure limits peripheral CD8+ T cell responses after mRNA vaccination
Summary
T cells are a critical component of the response to SARS-CoV-2, but their kinetics after infection and vaccination are insufficiently understood. Using “spheromer” peptide-MHC multimer reagents, we analyzed healthy subjects receiving two doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech BNT162b2 vaccine. Vaccination resulted in robust spike-specific T cell responses for the dominant CD4+ (HLA-DRB1∗15:01/S191) and CD8+ (HLA-A∗02/S691) T cell epitopes. Antigen-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses were asynchronous, with the peak CD4+ T cell responses occurring 1 week post the second vaccination (boost), whereas CD8+ T cells peaked 2 weeks later. These peripheral T cell responses were elevated compared with COVID-19 patients. We also found that previous SARS-CoV-2 infection resulted in decreased CD8+ T cell activation and expansion, suggesting that previous infection can influence the T cell response to vaccination.
Graphical abstract