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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MDPI AG
2021-08-01
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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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format | Article |
id | doaj.art-c7d6bda8e9794da9b914863dac3979e7 |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 2075-4418 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-03-10T08:53:56Z |
publishDate | 2021-08-01 |
publisher | MDPI AG |
record_format | Article |
series | Diagnostics |
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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