Frontiers in Immunology (May 2021)

A Virus-Specific Immune Rheostat in the Immunome of Patients Recovering From Mild COVID-19

  • Joo Guan Yeo,
  • Joo Guan Yeo,
  • Joo Guan Yeo,
  • Jing Yao Leong,
  • Shi Huan Tay,
  • Shi Huan Tay,
  • Karen Donceras Nadua,
  • Karen Donceras Nadua,
  • Karen Donceras Nadua,
  • Danielle E. Anderson,
  • Amanda Jin Mei Lim,
  • Xiang Wen Ng,
  • Su Li Poh,
  • Dianyan Guo,
  • Katherine Nay Yaung,
  • Katherine Nay Yaung,
  • Pavanish Kumar,
  • Martin Wasser,
  • Sharifah Nur Hazirah,
  • Nursyuhadah Sutamam,
  • Camillus Jian Hui Chua,
  • Martin Qui,
  • Randy Foo,
  • Akshamal Mihiranga Gamage,
  • Kee Thai Yeo,
  • Kee Thai Yeo,
  • Kee Thai Yeo,
  • Lakshmi Ramakrishna,
  • Thaschawee Arkachaisri,
  • Thaschawee Arkachaisri,
  • Thaschawee Arkachaisri,
  • Barnaby E. Young,
  • Barnaby E. Young,
  • Barnaby E. Young,
  • David Chien Lye,
  • David Chien Lye,
  • David Chien Lye,
  • David Chien Lye,
  • Lin-Fa Wang,
  • Chia Yin Chong,
  • Chia Yin Chong,
  • Chia Yin Chong,
  • Chia Yin Chong,
  • Natalie Woon Hui Tan,
  • Natalie Woon Hui Tan,
  • Natalie Woon Hui Tan,
  • Natalie Woon Hui Tan,
  • Jiahui Li,
  • Jiahui Li,
  • Jiahui Li,
  • Kai-Qian Kam,
  • Kai-Qian Kam,
  • Kai-Qian Kam,
  • Florent Ginhoux,
  • Florent Ginhoux,
  • Florent Ginhoux,
  • Koh Cheng Thoon,
  • Koh Cheng Thoon,
  • Koh Cheng Thoon,
  • Koh Cheng Thoon,
  • Jerry Kok Yen Chan,
  • Jerry Kok Yen Chan,
  • Chee Fu Yung,
  • Chee Fu Yung,
  • Chee Fu Yung,
  • Salvatore Albani,
  • Salvatore Albani,
  • Salvatore Albani

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2021.674279
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12

Abstract

Read online

An accurate depiction of the convalescent COVID-19 immunome will help delineate the immunological milieu crucial for disease resolution and protection. Using mass cytometry, we characterized the immune architecture in patients recovering from mild COVID-19. We identified a virus-specific immune rheostat composed of an effector T (Teff) cell recall response that is balanced by the enrichment of a highly specialized regulatory T (Treg) cell subset. Both components were reactive against a peptide pool covering the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein. We also observed expansion of IFNγ+ memory CD4+ T cells and virus-specific follicular helper T (TFH) cells. Overall, these findings pinpoint critical immune effector and regulatory mechanisms essential for a potent, yet harmless resolution of COVID-19 infection.

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