Cited by 78SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Researchvaccines and immunoinformatics approachesT-cell and B-cell Immunology

Healthy donor T cell responses to common cold coronaviruses and SARS-CoV-2

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Woldemeskel, Bezawit A., Kwaa, Abena K., Garliss, Caroline C., Laeyendecker, Oliver, Ray, Stuart C., Blankson, Joel N.·2020·Journal of Clinical Investigation

Abstract

BACKGROUNDT cell responses to the common cold coronaviruses have not been well characterized. Preexisting T cell immunity to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been reported, and a recent study suggested that this immunity was due to cross-recognition of the novel coronavirus by T cells specific for the common cold coronaviruses.METHODSWe used the enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assay to characterize the T cell responses against peptide pools derived from the spike protein of 3 common cold coronaviruses (HCoV-229E, HCoV-NL63, and HCoV-OC43) and SARS-CoV-2 in 21 healthy donors (HDs) who were seronegative for SARS-CoV-2 and had no known exposure to the virus. An in vitro expansion culture assay was also used to analyze memory T cell responses.RESULTSWe found responses to the spike protein of the 3 common cold coronaviruses in many of the donors. We then focused on HCoV-NL63 and detected broad T cell responses to the spike protein and identified 22 targeted peptides. Interestingly, only 1 study participant had a significant response to SARS-CoV-2 spike or nucleocapsid protein in the ELISPOT assay. In vitro expansion studies suggested that T cells specific for the HCoV-NL63 spike protein in this individual could also recognize SARS-CoV-2 spike protein peptide pools.CONCLUSIONHDs have circulating T cells specific for the spike proteins of HCoV-NL63, HCoV-229E, and HCoV-OC43. T cell responses to SARS-CoV-2 spike and nucleocapsid proteins were present in only 1 participant and were potentially the result of cross-recognition by T cells specific for the common cold coronaviruses. Further studies are needed to determine whether this cross-recognition influences coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outcomes.

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Authors
Woldemeskel, B. A., Kwaa, A. K., Garliss, C. C., Laeyendecker, O., Ray, S. C., & Blankson, J. N.
Affiliations
  • Johns Hopkins University (US)
  • National Institutes of Health (US)
Corresponding author
Blankson, Joel N.
Venue
Journal of Clinical Investigation
Published
2020-11-16
Volume
130
Issue
12
Pages
6631-6638
ISSN
  • 0021-9738 (ISSN-L)
  • 1558-8238
OpenAlex
W3087225540
Cited by
78
References
34
Citations by year
2025: 4 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 21 · 2021: 33 · 2020: 2
FWCI
2.26
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Clinical Investigation (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
NIAID, NIH (R01AI120024)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › vaccines and immunoinformatics approaches
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › T-cell and B-cell Immunology
Keywords
T cell response, common cold coronaviruses, SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 pandemic, HCoV-NL63, HCoV-229E, HCoV-OC43, spike protein, nucleocapsid protein, cross-reactive T cells, pre-existing immunity, memory T cells, healthy donors
MeSH terms
COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Adult, Common Cold, Cross Reactions, Female, Humans, Immunity, Cellular, Male, Middle Aged, T-Lymphocytes, Coronavirus 229E, Human, Coronavirus OC43, Human, Coronavirus NL63, Human

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