1
|
Chambers CD, Song J, da Silva Antunes R, Sette A, Franco A. T Cell Responses in Pregnant Women Who Received mRNA-Based Vaccination to Prevent COVID-19 Revealed Unknown Exposure to the Natural Infection and Numerous SARS-CoV-2-Specific CD4- CD8- Double Negative T Cells and Regulatory T Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2031. [PMID: 38396707 PMCID: PMC10889590 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25042031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
We studied T-cell responses to SARS-CoV-2 in 19 pregnant subjects at different gestational weeks who received three doses of mRNA-based vaccination to prevent COVID-19. SARS-CoV-2 peptide pools were used for T-cell recognition studies: peptides were 15 amino acids long and had previously been defined in COVID-19-convalescent subjects. T-cell activation was evaluated with the AIM assay. Most subjects showed coordinated, spike-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell responses and the development of T cell memory. Non-spike-specific T cells in subjects who were not aware of previous COVID-19 infection suggested a prior undetected, asymptomatic infection. CD4- CD8- double negative (DN) T cells were numerous, of which a percentage was specific for SARS-CoV-2 spike peptides. Regulatory T cells (Treg), both spike- and non-spike-specific, were also greatly expanded. Two Treg populations were defined: a population differentiated from naïve T cells, and pTreg, reverting from pro-inflammatory T cells. The Treg cells expressed CCR6, suggesting homing to the endometrium and vaginal epithelial cells. The pregnant women responded to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. Asymptomatic COVID-19 was revealed by the T cell response to the non-spike peptides. The numerous DN T cells and Treg pointed our attention to new aspects of the adaptive immune response in vaccine recipients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christina D. Chambers
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (C.D.C.); (J.S.)
| | - Jaeyoon Song
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (C.D.C.); (J.S.)
| | - Ricardo da Silva Antunes
- Center for Vaccine Innovation, La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI), La Jolla, CA 92037, USA (A.S.)
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Alessandro Sette
- Center for Vaccine Innovation, La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI), La Jolla, CA 92037, USA (A.S.)
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Alessandra Franco
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (C.D.C.); (J.S.)
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Franco A, Song J, Chambers C, Sette A, Grifoni A. SARS-CoV-2 spike-specific regulatory T cells (Treg) expand and develop memory in vaccine recipients suggesting a role for immune regulation in preventing severe symptoms in COVID-19. Autoimmunity 2023; 56:2259133. [PMID: 37724524 DOI: 10.1080/08916934.2023.2259133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/10/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023]
Abstract
We enrolled healthy subjects that received 2 to 4 injections of mRNA-based vaccination to prevent COVID-19 months to a year from the last vaccine boost, and we found numerous SARS-CoV-2 spike-specific regulatory T cell (Treg) that developed T cell memory as effector memory T cells (TEM) and central memory T cells (TCM). CD4+ CD25high Treg expressed the chemokine receptor CCR6 in a considerable percentage, suggesting T cell homing to the vascular endothelium, lung and gut epithelial cells and brain. Treg phenotype was different than peripherally-induced Treg (pTreg) that revert from pro-inflammatory T cells under repeated stimulatory conditions, suggesting that SARS-CoV-2 spike-specific Treg differentiated from naïve T cells in tissues where the SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins were synthetized. Twenty two of 22 subjects studied responded to vaccination developing a spike-specific CD4+ T helper (Th)1 response, and 20 of 22 developing a spike-specific CD8+ cytotoxic T cells (CTL) response. However, in vaccine recipients the expansion of spike-specific pro-inflammatory T cells was less significant than the expansion of spike-specific Treg. Effector (TEM) and central memory (TCM) Treg were numerous as early as after two vaccine doses, with no significant differences following additional vaccine boosts. In co-culture experiments under stimulatory conditions, Treg regulated naïve T cell differentiation toward a pro-inflammatory phenotype and suppressed interferon (IFN)γ production by SARS-CoV-2-specific CD4 + Th1 cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Franco
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Jaeyoon Song
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Christina Chambers
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Alessandro Sette
- Center for Autoimmunity and Inflammation, Center for Infectious Disease and Vaccine Research, La Jolla Institute for Immunology, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Alba Grifoni
- Center for Autoimmunity and Inflammation, Center for Infectious Disease and Vaccine Research, La Jolla Institute for Immunology, La Jolla, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Piroozkhah M, Gholinezhad Y, Piroozkhah M, Shams E, Nazemalhosseini-Mojarad E. The molecular mechanism of actions and clinical utilities of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes in gastrointestinal cancers: a comprehensive review and future prospects toward personalized medicine. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1298891. [PMID: 38077386 PMCID: PMC10704251 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1298891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers remain a significant global health burden, accounting for a substantial number of cases and deaths. Regrettably, the inadequacy of dependable biomarkers hinders the precise forecasting of patient prognosis and the selection of appropriate therapeutic sequencing for individuals with GI cancers, leading to suboptimal outcomes for numerous patients. The intricate interplay between tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) has been shown to be a pivotal determinant of response to anti-cancer therapy and consequential clinical outcomes across a multitude of cancer types. Therefore, the assessment of TILs has garnered global interest as a promising prognostic biomarker in oncology, with the potential to improve clinical decision-making substantially. Moreover, recent discoveries in immunotherapy have progressively changed the landscape of cancer treatment and significantly prolonged the survival of patients with advanced cancers. Nonetheless, the response rate remains constrained within solid tumor sufferers, even when TIL landscapes appear comparable, which calls for the development of our understanding of cellular and molecular cross-talk between TIME and tumor. Hence, this comprehensive review encapsulates the extant literature elucidating the TILs' underlying molecular pathogenesis, prognostic significance, and their relevance in the realm of immunotherapy for patients afflicted by GI tract cancers. Within this review, we demonstrate that the type, density, and spatial distribution of distinct TIL subpopulations carries pivotal implications for the prediction of anti-cancer treatment responses and patient survival. Furthermore, this review underscores the indispensable role of TILs in modulating therapeutic responses within distinct molecular subtypes, such as those characterized by microsatellite stability or programmed cell death ligand-1 expression in GI tract cancers. The review concludes by outlining future directions in TIL-based personalized medicine, including integrating TIL-based approaches into existing treatment regimens and developing novel therapeutic strategies that exploit the unique properties of TILs and their potential as a promising avenue for personalized cancer treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Moein Piroozkhah
- Basic and Molecular Epidemiology of Gastrointestinal Disorders Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Yasaman Gholinezhad
- School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mobin Piroozkhah
- Basic and Molecular Epidemiology of Gastrointestinal Disorders Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Elahe Shams
- Basic and Molecular Epidemiology of Gastrointestinal Disorders Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ehsan Nazemalhosseini-Mojarad
- Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Lao P, Chen J, Tang L, Zhang J, Chen Y, Fang Y, Fan X. Regulatory T cells in lung disease and transplantation. Biosci Rep 2023; 43:BSR20231331. [PMID: 37795866 PMCID: PMC10611924 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20231331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Pulmonary disease can refer to the disease of the lung itself or the pulmonary manifestations of systemic diseases, which are often connected to the malfunction of the immune system. Regulatory T (Treg) cells have been shown to be important in maintaining immune homeostasis and preventing inflammatory damage, including lung diseases. Given the increasing amount of evidence linking Treg cells to various pulmonary conditions, Treg cells might serve as a therapeutic strategy for the treatment of lung diseases and potentially promote lung transplant tolerance. The most potent and well-defined Treg cells are Foxp3-expressing CD4+ Treg cells, which contribute to the prevention of autoimmune lung diseases and the promotion of lung transplant rejection. The protective mechanisms of Treg cells in lung disease and transplantation involve multiple immune suppression mechanisms. This review summarizes the development, phenotype and function of CD4+Foxp3+ Treg cells. Then, we focus on the therapeutic potential of Treg cells in preventing lung disease and limiting lung transplant rejection. Furthermore, we discussed the possibility of Treg cell utilization in clinical applications. This will provide an overview of current research advances in Treg cells and their relevant application in clinics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Peizhen Lao
- Institute of Biological and Food Engineering, Guangdong University of Education, 351 Xingang Middle Road, Guangzhou 510303, PR China
| | - Jingyi Chen
- Institute of Biological and Food Engineering, Guangdong University of Education, 351 Xingang Middle Road, Guangzhou 510303, PR China
| | - Longqian Tang
- Institute of Biological and Food Engineering, Guangdong University of Education, 351 Xingang Middle Road, Guangzhou 510303, PR China
| | - Jiwen Zhang
- Institute of Biological and Food Engineering, Guangdong University of Education, 351 Xingang Middle Road, Guangzhou 510303, PR China
| | - Yuxi Chen
- Institute of Biological and Food Engineering, Guangdong University of Education, 351 Xingang Middle Road, Guangzhou 510303, PR China
| | - Yuyin Fang
- Institute of Biological and Food Engineering, Guangdong University of Education, 351 Xingang Middle Road, Guangzhou 510303, PR China
| | - Xingliang Fan
- Institute of Biological and Food Engineering, Guangdong University of Education, 351 Xingang Middle Road, Guangzhou 510303, PR China
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Wang Y, Liang Q, Chen F, Zheng J, Chen Y, Chen Z, Li R, Li X. Immune-Cell-Based Therapy for COVID-19: Current Status. Viruses 2023; 15:2148. [PMID: 38005826 PMCID: PMC10674523 DOI: 10.3390/v15112148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has become a global pandemic. The interplay between innate and adaptive immune responses plays a crucial role in managing COVID-19. Cell therapy has recently emerged as a promising strategy to modulate the immune system, offering immense potential for the treatment of COVID-19 due to its customizability and regenerative capabilities. This review provides an overview of the various subsets of immune cell subsets implicated in the pathogenesis of COVID-19 and a comprehensive summary of the current status of immune cell therapy in COVID-19 treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yiyuan Wang
- Laboratory of Anti-Inflammatory and Immunomodulatory Pharmacology, Innovation Program of Drug Research on Inflammatory and Immune Diseases, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China; (Y.W.); (Q.L.); (F.C.); (J.Z.); (Y.C.); (Z.C.); (R.L.)
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Qinghe Liang
- Laboratory of Anti-Inflammatory and Immunomodulatory Pharmacology, Innovation Program of Drug Research on Inflammatory and Immune Diseases, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China; (Y.W.); (Q.L.); (F.C.); (J.Z.); (Y.C.); (Z.C.); (R.L.)
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Fengsheng Chen
- Laboratory of Anti-Inflammatory and Immunomodulatory Pharmacology, Innovation Program of Drug Research on Inflammatory and Immune Diseases, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China; (Y.W.); (Q.L.); (F.C.); (J.Z.); (Y.C.); (Z.C.); (R.L.)
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Jiehuang Zheng
- Laboratory of Anti-Inflammatory and Immunomodulatory Pharmacology, Innovation Program of Drug Research on Inflammatory and Immune Diseases, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China; (Y.W.); (Q.L.); (F.C.); (J.Z.); (Y.C.); (Z.C.); (R.L.)
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Yan Chen
- Laboratory of Anti-Inflammatory and Immunomodulatory Pharmacology, Innovation Program of Drug Research on Inflammatory and Immune Diseases, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China; (Y.W.); (Q.L.); (F.C.); (J.Z.); (Y.C.); (Z.C.); (R.L.)
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Ziye Chen
- Laboratory of Anti-Inflammatory and Immunomodulatory Pharmacology, Innovation Program of Drug Research on Inflammatory and Immune Diseases, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China; (Y.W.); (Q.L.); (F.C.); (J.Z.); (Y.C.); (Z.C.); (R.L.)
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Ruopeng Li
- Laboratory of Anti-Inflammatory and Immunomodulatory Pharmacology, Innovation Program of Drug Research on Inflammatory and Immune Diseases, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China; (Y.W.); (Q.L.); (F.C.); (J.Z.); (Y.C.); (Z.C.); (R.L.)
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Xiaojuan Li
- Laboratory of Anti-Inflammatory and Immunomodulatory Pharmacology, Innovation Program of Drug Research on Inflammatory and Immune Diseases, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China; (Y.W.); (Q.L.); (F.C.); (J.Z.); (Y.C.); (Z.C.); (R.L.)
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Drug Metabolism, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Screening, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Xing Y, Li Y, Feng L, Huo R, Ma X, Dong Y, Liu D, Niu Y, Tian X, Chen E. Predictors of COVID-19 Severity in Elderly Patients Infected by Omicron in China, 18 December 2022-5 February 2023. Infect Drug Resist 2023; 16:4505-4518. [PMID: 37457796 PMCID: PMC10349581 DOI: 10.2147/idr.s418622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose To analyze the clinical characteristics and prognosis of patients hospitalized with non-severe, severe pneumonia and death in Omicron COVID-19. Patients and Methods We collected clinical data from 118 patients with COVID-19 in China from 18 December, 2022 and 5 February, 2023. According to the outcome, the patients were divided into non-severe group, severe group and death group. Subsequently, we statistically analyzed the general condition, clinical manifestations, laboratory parameters, NLR, MLR, PLR and HALP of these groups. We also retrospectively analyzed the possible factors affecting the prognostic regression of patients with COVID-19. Results A total of 118 COVID-19 patients were enrolled in this study, including 64 non-severe patients, 38 severe patients and 16 death patients. Compared with the non-severe group, T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, Th1, Th2, Th17, Treg cells, IgA, IgG, IgM in the severe and death groups decreased more significantly (P<0.05). The levels of myocardial markers, ALT, AST, BUN, Cr, D-dimer, fibrinogen, NLR, MLR and PLR in the severe and death groups were significantly higher than those in the non-severe group (P<0.05). The level of HALP was significantly lower than that of non-severe group (P<0.05). MLR is not only an independent risk factor for the transition from non-severe to severe disease, but also an independent risk factor for predicting the possibility of death in COVID-19 patients. Conclusion The analysis of COVID-19 patients in China showed that severe patients were older, more likely to have related complications, lower lymphocyte count, liver and kidney function disorder, glucose and lipid metabolism disorders, myocardial injury, and abnormal coagulation function, suggesting the need for early anticoagulant therapy. In addition, NLR, MLR, PLR and HALP can be used as biomarkers to evaluate the severity and prognosis of COVID-19 patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yanqing Xing
- The Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yupeng Li
- The Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Liting Feng
- The Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Rujie Huo
- The Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xinkai Ma
- The Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yanting Dong
- The Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Dai Liu
- The Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yuheng Niu
- The First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xinrui Tian
- The Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Erjing Chen
- The Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, People’s Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Sun L, Su Y, Jiao A, Wang X, Zhang B. T cells in health and disease. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:235. [PMID: 37332039 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-023-01471-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 60.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Revised: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023] Open
Abstract
T cells are crucial for immune functions to maintain health and prevent disease. T cell development occurs in a stepwise process in the thymus and mainly generates CD4+ and CD8+ T cell subsets. Upon antigen stimulation, naïve T cells differentiate into CD4+ helper and CD8+ cytotoxic effector and memory cells, mediating direct killing, diverse immune regulatory function, and long-term protection. In response to acute and chronic infections and tumors, T cells adopt distinct differentiation trajectories and develop into a range of heterogeneous populations with various phenotype, differentiation potential, and functionality under precise and elaborate regulations of transcriptional and epigenetic programs. Abnormal T-cell immunity can initiate and promote the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of T cell development, CD4+ and CD8+ T cell classification, and differentiation in physiological settings. We further elaborate the heterogeneity, differentiation, functionality, and regulation network of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in infectious disease, chronic infection and tumor, and autoimmune disease, highlighting the exhausted CD8+ T cell differentiation trajectory, CD4+ T cell helper function, T cell contributions to immunotherapy and autoimmune pathogenesis. We also discuss the development and function of γδ T cells in tissue surveillance, infection, and tumor immunity. Finally, we summarized current T-cell-based immunotherapies in both cancer and autoimmune diseases, with an emphasis on their clinical applications. A better understanding of T cell immunity provides insight into developing novel prophylactic and therapeutic strategies in human diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lina Sun
- Department of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710061, China
- Institute of Infection and Immunity, Translational Medicine Institute, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710061, China
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases, Ministry of Education, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710061, China
- Xi'an Key Laboratory of Immune Related Diseases, Xi'an, Shannxi, 710061, China
| | - Yanhong Su
- Department of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710061, China
- Institute of Infection and Immunity, Translational Medicine Institute, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710061, China
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases, Ministry of Education, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710061, China
- Xi'an Key Laboratory of Immune Related Diseases, Xi'an, Shannxi, 710061, China
| | - Anjun Jiao
- Department of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710061, China
- Institute of Infection and Immunity, Translational Medicine Institute, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710061, China
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases, Ministry of Education, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710061, China
- Xi'an Key Laboratory of Immune Related Diseases, Xi'an, Shannxi, 710061, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Department of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710061, China
- Institute of Infection and Immunity, Translational Medicine Institute, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710061, China
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases, Ministry of Education, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710061, China
- Xi'an Key Laboratory of Immune Related Diseases, Xi'an, Shannxi, 710061, China
| | - Baojun Zhang
- Department of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710061, China.
- Institute of Infection and Immunity, Translational Medicine Institute, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710061, China.
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases, Ministry of Education, Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710061, China.
- Xi'an Key Laboratory of Immune Related Diseases, Xi'an, Shannxi, 710061, China.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Dhawan M, Rabaan AA, Alwarthan S, Alhajri M, Halwani MA, Alshengeti A, Najim MA, Alwashmi ASS, Alshehri AA, Alshamrani SA, AlShehail BM, Garout M, Al-Abdulhadi S, Al-Ahmed SH, Thakur N, Verma G. Regulatory T Cells (Tregs) and COVID-19: Unveiling the Mechanisms, and Therapeutic Potentialities with a Special Focus on Long COVID. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:vaccines11030699. [PMID: 36992283 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11030699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused havoc all around the world. The causative agent of COVID-19 is the novel form of the coronavirus (CoV) named SARS-CoV-2, which results in immune system disruption, increased inflammation, and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). T cells have been important components of the immune system, which decide the fate of the COVID-19 disease. Recent studies have reported an important subset of T cells known as regulatory T cells (Tregs), which possess immunosuppressive and immunoregulatory properties and play a crucial role in the prognosis of COVID-19 disease. Recent studies have shown that COVID-19 patients have considerably fewer Tregs than the general population. Such a decrement may have an impact on COVID-19 patients in a number of ways, including diminishing the effect of inflammatory inhibition, creating an inequality in the Treg/Th17 percentage, and raising the chance of respiratory failure. Having fewer Tregs may enhance the likelihood of long COVID development in addition to contributing to the disease's poor prognosis. Additionally, tissue-resident Tregs provide tissue repair in addition to immunosuppressive and immunoregulatory activities, which may aid in the recovery of COVID-19 patients. The severity of the illness is also linked to abnormalities in the Tregs' phenotype, such as reduced expression of FoxP3 and other immunosuppressive cytokines, including IL-10 and TGF-beta. Hence, in this review, we summarize the immunosuppressive mechanisms and their possible roles in the prognosis of COVID-19 disease. Furthermore, the perturbations in Tregs have been associated with disease severity. The roles of Tregs are also explained in the long COVID. This review also discusses the potential therapeutic roles of Tregs in the management of patients with COVID-19.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Manish Dhawan
- Department of Microbiology, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana 141004, India
- Trafford College, Altrincham, Manchester WA14 5PQ, UK
| | - Ali A Rabaan
- Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory, Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare, Dhahran 31311, Saudi Arabia
- College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh 11533, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Public Health and Nutrition, The University of Haripur, Haripur 22610, Pakistan
| | - Sara Alwarthan
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam 34212, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mashael Alhajri
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam 34212, Saudi Arabia
| | - Muhammad A Halwani
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Al Baha University, Al Baha 4781, Saudi Arabia
| | - Amer Alshengeti
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Taibah University, Al-Madinah 41491, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Infection Prevention and Control, Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz Hospital, National Guard Health Affairs, Al-Madinah 41491, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mustafa A Najim
- Department of Medical Laboratories Technology, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taibah University, Al-Madinah 41411, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ameen S S Alwashmi
- Department of Medical Laboratories, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmad A Alshehri
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Najran University, Najran 61441, Saudi Arabia
| | - Saleh A Alshamrani
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Najran University, Najran 61441, Saudi Arabia
| | - Bashayer M AlShehail
- Pharmacy Practice Department, College of Clinical Pharmacy, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam 31441, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed Garout
- Department of Community Medicine and Health Care for Pilgrims, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 21955, Saudi Arabia
| | - Saleh Al-Abdulhadi
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Riyadh 11942, Saudi Arabia
- Dr. Saleh Office for Medical Genetic and Genetic Counseling Services, The House of Expertise, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Dammam 32411, Saudi Arabia
| | - Shamsah H Al-Ahmed
- Specialty Paediatric Medicine, Qatif Central Hospital, Qatif 32654, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nanamika Thakur
- University Institute of Biotechnology, Department of Biotechnology, Chandigarh University, Mohali 140413, India
| | - Geetika Verma
- Department of Experimental Medicine and Biotechnology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh 160012, India
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine-Induced T-Cell Response after Three Doses in People Living with HIV on Antiretroviral Therapy Compared to Seronegative Controls (CTN 328 COVAXHIV Study). Viruses 2023; 15:v15020575. [PMID: 36851789 PMCID: PMC9959053 DOI: 10.3390/v15020575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
People living with HIV (PLWH) may be at risk for poor immunogenicity to certain vaccines, including the ability to develop immunological memory. Here, we assessed T-cell immunogenicity following three SARS-CoV-2 vaccine doses in PLWH versus uninfected controls. Blood was collected from 38 PLWH on antiretroviral therapy and 24 age-matched HIV-negative controls, pre-vaccination and after 1st/2nd/3rd dose of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, without prior SARS-CoV-2 infection. Flow cytometry was used to assess ex vivo T-cell immunophenotypes and intracellular Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α/interferon(IFN)-γ/interleukin(IL)-2 following SARS-CoV-2-Spike-peptide stimulation. Comparisons were made using Wilcoxon signed-rank test for paired variables and Mann-Whitney for unpaired. In PLWH, Spike-specific CD4 T-cell frequencies plateaued post-2nd dose, with no significant differences in polyfunctional SARS-CoV-2-specific T-cell proportions between PLWH and uninfected controls post-3rd dose. PLWH had higher frequencies of TNFα+CD4 T-cells and lower frequencies of IFNγ+CD8 T-cells than seronegative participants post-3rd dose. Regardless of HIV status, an increase in naive, regulatory, and PD1+ T-cell frequencies was observed post-3rd dose. In summary, two doses of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine induced a robust T-cell immune response in PLWH, which was maintained after the 3rd dose, with no significant differences in polyfunctional SARS-CoV-2-specific T-cell proportions between PLWH and uninfected controls post-3rd dose.
Collapse
|
10
|
Shindo Y, Dela Cruz CS, Witzenrath M. Identification of two specific transcriptomic clusters of COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome patients with different immune profiles and different outcomes. Eur Respir J 2023; 61:13993003.02008-2022. [PMID: 36517181 PMCID: PMC9881224 DOI: 10.1183/13993003.02008-2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the cause of the respiratory illness COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019). The virus was first identified in December 2019 in Wuhan, China and has since then spread globally, resulting in the ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, causing more than 615 million confirmed cases of infection (https://covid19.who.int/). Although the largest proportion of SARS-CoV-2 infections in humans is characterised by a mild course of disease, about 5% to 20% of patients are hospitalised with COVID-19 due to a more severe course of disease, and require admission to the intensive care unit for diffuse lung infiltrates and severe hypoxaemia [1]. Transcriptomic clustering of patients with ARDS due to COVID-19 identified different immune profiles and outcomes. This demonstrates heterogeneity among COVID-19 ARDS patients and may help to establish personalised therapies.https://bit.ly/3h61sCj
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuichiro Shindo
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Charles S Dela Cruz
- Section of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Martin Witzenrath
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Department of Infectious Diseases and Respiratory Medicine, Berlin, Germany
- German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Berlin, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Heinen N, Marheinecke CS, Bessen C, Blazquez-Navarro A, Roch T, Stervbo U, Anft M, Plaza-Sirvent C, Busse S, Klöhn M, Schrader J, Vidal Blanco E, Urlaub D, Watzl C, Hoffmann M, Pöhlmann S, Tenbusch M, Steinmann E, Todt D, Hagenbeck C, Zimmer G, Schmidt WE, Quast DR, Babel N, Schmitz I, Pfänder S. In-depth analysis of T cell immunity and antibody responses in heterologous prime-boost-boost vaccine regimens against SARS-CoV-2 and Omicron variant. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1062210. [PMID: 36618413 PMCID: PMC9811676 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1062210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
With the emergence of novel Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) Variants of Concern (VOCs), vaccination studies that elucidate the efficiency and effectiveness of a vaccination campaign are critical to assess the durability and the protective immunity provided by vaccines. SARS-CoV-2 vaccines have been found to induce robust humoral and cell-mediated immunity in individuals vaccinated with homologous vaccination regimens. Recent studies also suggest improved immune response against SARS-CoV-2 when heterologous vaccination strategies are employed. Yet, few data exist on the extent to which heterologous prime-boost-boost vaccinations with two different vaccine platforms have an impact on the T cell-mediated immune responses with a special emphasis on the currently dominantly circulating Omicron strain. In this study, we collected serum and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 57 study participants of median 35-year old's working in the health care field, who have received different vaccination regimens. Neutralization assays revealed robust but decreased neutralization of Omicron VOC, including BA.1 and BA.4/5, compared to WT SARS-CoV-2 in all vaccine groups and increased WT SARS-CoV-2 binding and neutralizing antibodies titers in homologous mRNA prime-boost-boost study participants. By investigating cytokine production, we found that homologous and heterologous prime-boost-boost-vaccination induces a robust cytokine response of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Collectively, our results indicate robust humoral and T cell mediated immunity against Omicron in homologous and heterologous prime-boost-boost vaccinated study participants, which might serve as a guide for policy decisions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Natalie Heinen
- Department of Molecular & Medical Virology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | | | - Clara Bessen
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Arturo Blazquez-Navarro
- Center for Translational Medicine and Immune Diagnostics Laboratory, Medical Department I, Marien Hospital, University Hospital of the Ruhr University Bochum, Herne, Germany,BIH Center for Regenerative Therapies, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Toralf Roch
- Center for Translational Medicine and Immune Diagnostics Laboratory, Medical Department I, Marien Hospital, University Hospital of the Ruhr University Bochum, Herne, Germany,BIH Center for Regenerative Therapies, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ulrik Stervbo
- Center for Translational Medicine and Immune Diagnostics Laboratory, Medical Department I, Marien Hospital, University Hospital of the Ruhr University Bochum, Herne, Germany
| | - Moritz Anft
- Center for Translational Medicine and Immune Diagnostics Laboratory, Medical Department I, Marien Hospital, University Hospital of the Ruhr University Bochum, Herne, Germany
| | | | - Sandra Busse
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Mara Klöhn
- Department of Molecular & Medical Virology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Jil Schrader
- Department of Molecular & Medical Virology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Elena Vidal Blanco
- Department of Molecular & Medical Virology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Doris Urlaub
- Department for Immunology, Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors (IfADo) at TU Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Carsten Watzl
- Department for Immunology, Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors (IfADo) at TU Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Markus Hoffmann
- Infection Biology Unit, German Primate Center, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Stefan Pöhlmann
- Infection Biology Unit, German Primate Center, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Matthias Tenbusch
- Institut für klinische und molekulare Virologie, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen und Friedrich-Alexander-Universität (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Eike Steinmann
- Department of Molecular & Medical Virology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Daniel Todt
- Department of Molecular & Medical Virology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany,European Virus Bioinformatics Center, Jena, Germany
| | - Carsten Hagenbeck
- Clinic for Gynecology and Obstetrics, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Gert Zimmer
- Clinic for Gynecology and Obstetrics, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany,Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Daniel Robert Quast
- Department of Medicine I, St. Josef-Hospital Bochum, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Nina Babel
- Center for Translational Medicine and Immune Diagnostics Laboratory, Medical Department I, Marien Hospital, University Hospital of the Ruhr University Bochum, Herne, Germany,BIH Center for Regenerative Therapies, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ingo Schmitz
- Department of Molecular Immunology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany,*Correspondence: Ingo Schmitz, ; Stephanie Pfänder,
| | - Stephanie Pfänder
- Department of Molecular & Medical Virology, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany,*Correspondence: Ingo Schmitz, ; Stephanie Pfänder,
| |
Collapse
|