Convalescing COVID-19 patients mount robust T cell responses against SARS-CoV-2, suggesting an important role for T cells in viral clearance. To date, the phenotypes of SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells remain poorly defined. Using 38-parameter CyTOF, we phenotyped longitudinal specimens of SARS-CoV-2-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells from nine individuals who recovered from mild COVID-19. SARS-CoV-2-specific CD4+ T cells were exclusively Th1 cells, and predominantly Tcm with phenotypic features of robust helper function. SARS-CoV-2-specific CD8+ T cells were predominantly Temra cells in a state of less terminal differentiation than most Temra cells. Subsets of SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells express CD127, can homeostatically proliferate, and can persist for over two months. Our results suggest that long-lived and robust T cell immunity is generated following natural SARS-CoV-2 infection, and support an important role for SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells in host control of COVID-19.

中文翻译：

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SARS-CoV-2 特异性 T 细胞表现出独特的特征，包括强大的辅助功能、缺乏终末分化和高增殖潜力。

正在康复的 COVID-19 患者对 SARS-CoV-2 产生了强烈的 T 细胞反应，这表明 T 细胞在病毒清除中的重要作用。迄今为止，SARS-CoV-2 特异性 T 细胞的表型仍然不明确。使用 38 参数 CyTOF，我们对 9 名从轻度 COVID-19 中康复的个体的 SARS-CoV-2 特异性 CD4+ 和 CD8+ T 细胞纵向标本进行表型分析。SARS-CoV-2 特异性 CD4+ T 细胞仅是 Th1 细胞，主要是具有强大辅助功能的表型特征的 Tcm。SARS-CoV-2 特异性 CD8+ T 细胞主要是 Temra 细胞，其终末分化程度低于大多数 Temra 细胞。SARS-CoV-2 特异性 T 细胞亚群表达 CD127，可以稳态增殖，并且可以持续两个多月。