Characterization of SARS-CoV-2 and common cold coronavirus-specific T-cell responses in MIS-C and Kawasaki disease children.

Abstract

The immunopathogenesis of multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C) in children that may follow exposure to SARS-CoV-2 is incompletely understood. Here, we studied SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells in MIS-C, Kawasaki disease (KD), and SARS-CoV-2 convalescent controls using peptide pools derived from SARS-CoV-2 spike or nonspike proteins, and common cold coronaviruses (CCC). Coordinated CD4+ and CD8+ SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells were detected in five MIS-C subjects with cross-reactivity to CCC. CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell responses alone were documented in three and one subjects, respectively. T-cell specificities in MIS-C did not correlate with disease severity and were similar to SARS-CoV-2 convalescent controls. T-cell memory and cross-reactivity to CCC in MIS-C and SARS-CoV-2 convalescent controls were also similar. The chemokine receptor CCR6, but not CCR9, was highly expressed on SARS-CoV-2-specific CD4+ but not on CD8+ T cells. Only two of 10 KD subjects showed a T-cell response to CCC. Enumeration of myeloid APCs revealed low cell precursors in MIS-C subjects compared to KD. In summary, children with MIS-C mount a normal T-cell response to SARS-CoV-2 with no apparent relationship to antecedent CCC exposure. Low numbers of tolerogenic myeloid DCs may impair their anti-inflammatory response.

• Authors: Li-En Hsieh, Alba Grifoni, John Sidney, Chisato Shimizu, Hiroko Shike, Nanda Ramchandar, Elizabeth Moreno, Adriana H Tremoulet, Jane C Burns, Alessandra Franco
• Journal: European journal of immunology (Eur J Immunol) Vol. 52 Issue 1 Pg. 123-137 (01 2022) ISSN: 1521-4141 [Electronic] Germany
• PMID: 34599760 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural)
• Copyright: © 2021 The Authors. European Journal of Immunology published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.

Topics

• Adolescent
• CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes (immunology)
• CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes (immunology)
• COVID-19 (complications, immunology)
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Female
• Humans
• Immunity, Cellular
• Immunologic Memory
• Infant
• Male
• Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome (complications, immunology)
• SARS-CoV-2 (immunology)
• Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (immunology)