This study analyzed whole blood samples ( n = 56) retrieved from 30 patients at 1 to 21 (median 9) mo after verified COVID-19 to determine the polarity and duration of antigen-specific T cell reactivity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2–derived antigens. Multimeric peptides spanning the entire nucleocapsid protein triggered strikingly synchronous formation of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-12, IL-13, and IL-17 ex vivo until ∼70 d after confirmed infection, whereafter this reactivity was no longer inducible. In contrast, levels of nucleocapsid-induced IL-2 and interferon-γ remained stable and highly correlated at 3 to 21 mo after infection. Similar cytokine dynamics were observed in unvaccinated, convalescent patients using whole-blood samples stimulated with peptides spanning the N-terminal portion of the spike 1 protein. These results unravel two phases of T cell reactivity following natural COVID-19: an early, synchronous response indicating transient presence of multipolar, antigen-specific T helper (T H ) cells followed by an equally synchronous and durable T H 1-like reactivity reflecting long-lasting T cell memory.

中文翻译：

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COVID-19 后短暂且持久的 T 细胞反应性

本研究分析了全血样本（n= 56）在验证 COVID-19 后 1 至 21（中位数 9）个月从 30 名患者中检索，以确定针对严重急性呼吸系统综合症冠状病毒 2 衍生抗原的抗原特异性 T 细胞反应性的极性和持续时间。跨越整个核衣壳蛋白的多聚体肽在体外触发了白细胞介素 (IL)-4、IL-12、IL-13 和 IL-17 的显着同步形成，直到确认感染后约 70 天，此后这种反应性不再被诱导。相反，核衣壳诱导的 IL-2 和干扰素-γ 的水平在感染后 3 至 21 个月保持稳定且高度相关。在未接种疫苗的恢复期患者中观察到类似的细胞因子动力学，使用用跨越刺突 1 蛋白 N 末端部分的肽刺激的全血样本。H) 细胞后跟一个同样同步和持久的 TH反映持久 T 细胞记忆的 1 样反应性。