Comparison of SARS-CoV-2- and HCoV-Specific T Cell Response Using IFN-γ ELISpot

Herd immunity is essential to control severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2), especially in immunocompromised patients. Convalescent individuals should be vaccinated later due to vaccine shortage, as studies show that neutralizing antibodies generated during infection are...

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Main Authors: Laura Thümmler, Sina Schwarzkopf, Dietmar Knop, J. Alexander Ross, Victoria Berg, Peter A. Horn, Monika Lindemann
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-08-01
Series:Diagnostics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/11/8/1439
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author Laura Thümmler
Sina Schwarzkopf
Dietmar Knop
J. Alexander Ross
Victoria Berg
Peter A. Horn
Monika Lindemann
author_facet Laura Thümmler
Sina Schwarzkopf
Dietmar Knop
J. Alexander Ross
Victoria Berg
Peter A. Horn
Monika Lindemann
author_sort Laura Thümmler
collection DOAJ
description Herd immunity is essential to control severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2), especially in immunocompromised patients. Convalescent individuals should be vaccinated later due to vaccine shortage, as studies show that neutralizing antibodies generated during infection are stable for at least 6 months. Cellular immunity is also detectable for months. However, there is evidence of cross-reactivity of T cells with human endemic coronaviruses (HCoVs). Here, we show that cross-reactivity—which may prevent the specific detection of SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell responses—can be avoided if cells are stimulated with the N-terminus of the spike protein in IFN-γ ELISpot. In contrast to previous studies, we examined T-cell responses against all four known HCoVs using IFN-γ ELISpot in 19 convalescent volunteers and 10 fully vaccinated volunteers. In addition, we performed Spearman analyses to detect cross-reactivity of T cells. We observed no correlation between T-cell responses against SARS-CoV-2 and human endemic coronaviruses, either in the whole cohort or in the individual groups. The use of the respective stimuli could lead to a more accurate assessment of cellular immunity in recovered individuals. This testing procedure could help to define the best time point at which convalescents should receive SARS-CoV-2 vaccination.
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spelling doaj.art-c7d6bda8e9794da9b914863dac3979e72023-11-22T07:20:32ZengMDPI AGDiagnostics2075-44182021-08-01118143910.3390/diagnostics11081439Comparison of SARS-CoV-2- and HCoV-Specific T Cell Response Using IFN-γ ELISpotLaura Thümmler0Sina Schwarzkopf1Dietmar Knop2J. Alexander Ross3Victoria Berg4Peter A. Horn5Monika Lindemann6Institute for Transfusion Medicine, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, GermanyInstitute for Transfusion Medicine, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, GermanyInstitute for Transfusion Medicine, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, GermanyInstitute of Cell Biology (Cancer Research), University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, GermanyInstitute of Cell Biology (Cancer Research), University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, GermanyInstitute for Transfusion Medicine, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, GermanyInstitute for Transfusion Medicine, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, 45147 Essen, GermanyHerd immunity is essential to control severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2), especially in immunocompromised patients. Convalescent individuals should be vaccinated later due to vaccine shortage, as studies show that neutralizing antibodies generated during infection are stable for at least 6 months. Cellular immunity is also detectable for months. However, there is evidence of cross-reactivity of T cells with human endemic coronaviruses (HCoVs). Here, we show that cross-reactivity—which may prevent the specific detection of SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell responses—can be avoided if cells are stimulated with the N-terminus of the spike protein in IFN-γ ELISpot. In contrast to previous studies, we examined T-cell responses against all four known HCoVs using IFN-γ ELISpot in 19 convalescent volunteers and 10 fully vaccinated volunteers. In addition, we performed Spearman analyses to detect cross-reactivity of T cells. We observed no correlation between T-cell responses against SARS-CoV-2 and human endemic coronaviruses, either in the whole cohort or in the individual groups. The use of the respective stimuli could lead to a more accurate assessment of cellular immunity in recovered individuals. This testing procedure could help to define the best time point at which convalescents should receive SARS-CoV-2 vaccination.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/11/8/1439cross-reactivityELISpothuman endemic coronavirus
spellingShingle Laura Thümmler
Sina Schwarzkopf
Dietmar Knop
J. Alexander Ross
Victoria Berg
Peter A. Horn
Monika Lindemann
Comparison of SARS-CoV-2- and HCoV-Specific T Cell Response Using IFN-γ ELISpot
Diagnostics
cross-reactivity
ELISpot
human endemic coronavirus
title Comparison of SARS-CoV-2- and HCoV-Specific T Cell Response Using IFN-γ ELISpot
title_full Comparison of SARS-CoV-2- and HCoV-Specific T Cell Response Using IFN-γ ELISpot
title_fullStr Comparison of SARS-CoV-2- and HCoV-Specific T Cell Response Using IFN-γ ELISpot
title_full_unstemmed Comparison of SARS-CoV-2- and HCoV-Specific T Cell Response Using IFN-γ ELISpot
title_short Comparison of SARS-CoV-2- and HCoV-Specific T Cell Response Using IFN-γ ELISpot
title_sort comparison of sars cov 2 and hcov specific t cell response using ifn γ elispot
topic cross-reactivity
ELISpot
human endemic coronavirus
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/11/8/1439
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