SARS-CoV-2 induces robust germinal center CD4 T follicular helper cell responses in rhesus macaques.
basic_science · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 33483492.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1038/s41467-020-20642-x and PMC identifier 7822826.
- Licence recorded as CC BY.
- The licence permits redistribution, so the abstract is shown in full and the full text is available from the publisher.
Abstract
CD4 T follicular helper (T<sub>fh</sub>) cells are important for the generation of durable and specific humoral protection against viral infections. The degree to which SARS-CoV-2 infection generates T<sub>fh</sub> cells and stimulates the germinal center (GC) response is an important question as we investigate vaccine induced immunity against COVID-19. Here, we report that SARS-CoV-2 infection in rhesus macaques, either infused with convalescent plasma, normal plasma, or receiving no infusion, resulted in transient accumulation of pro-inflammatory monocytes and proliferating T<sub>fh</sub> cells with a T<sub>h</sub>1 profile in peripheral blood. CD4 helper cell responses skewed predominantly toward a T<sub>h</sub>1 response in blood, lung, and lymph nodes. SARS-CoV-2 Infection induced GC T<sub>fh</sub> cells specific for the SARS-CoV-2 spike and nucleocapsid proteins, and a corresponding early appearance of antiviral serum IgG antibodies. Collectively, the data show induction of GC responses in a rhesus model of mild COVID-19.
Medical subject headings
- COVID-19
- Germinal Center
- SARS-CoV-2
- T Follicular Helper Cells
- Th1 Cells