Frontiers in Immunology (Mar 2022)

SARS-CoV-2 T Cell Response in Severe and Fatal COVID-19 in Primary Antibody Deficiency Patients Without Specific Humoral Immunity

  • Sophie Steiner,
  • Tatjana Schwarz,
  • Tatjana Schwarz,
  • Victor M. Corman,
  • Victor M. Corman,
  • Laura Gebert,
  • Malte C. Kleinschmidt,
  • Alexandra Wald,
  • Sven Gläser,
  • Jan M. Kruse,
  • Daniel Zickler,
  • Alexander Peric,
  • Christian Meisel,
  • Christian Meisel,
  • Tim Meyer,
  • Olga L. Staudacher,
  • Olga L. Staudacher,
  • Kirsten Wittke,
  • Claudia Kedor,
  • Sandra Bauer,
  • Nabeel Al Besher,
  • Ulrich Kalus,
  • Axel Pruß,
  • Christian Drosten,
  • Christian Drosten,
  • Hans-Dieter Volk,
  • Hans-Dieter Volk,
  • Hans-Dieter Volk,
  • Carmen Scheibenbogen,
  • Carmen Scheibenbogen,
  • Leif G. Hanitsch

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2022.840126
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13

Abstract

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Morbidity and mortality of COVID-19 is increased in patients with inborn errors of immunity (IEI). Age and comorbidities and also impaired type I interferon immunity were identified as relevant risk factors. In patients with primary antibody deficiency (PAD) and lack of specific humoral immune response to SARS-CoV-2, clinical disease outcome is very heterogeneous. Despite extensive clinical reports, underlying immunological mechanisms are poorly characterized and levels of T cellular and innate immunity in severe cases remain to be determined. In the present study, we report clinical and immunological findings of 5 PAD patients with severe and fatal COVID-19 and undetectable specific humoral immune response to SARS-CoV-2. Reactive T cells to SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) and nucleocapsid (NCAP) peptide pools were analyzed comparatively by flow cytometry in PAD patients, convalescents and naïve healthy individuals. All examined PAD patients developed a robust T cell response. The presence of polyfunctional cytokine producing activated CD4+ T cells indicates a memory-like phenotype. An analysis of innate immune response revealed elevated CD169 (SIGLEC1) expression on monocytes, a surrogate marker for type I interferon response, and presence of type I interferon autoantibodies was excluded. SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detectable in peripheral blood in three severe COVID-19 patients with PAD. Viral clearance in blood was observed after treatment with COVID-19 convalescent plasma/monoclonal antibody administration. However, prolonged mucosal viral shedding was observed in all patients (median 67 days) with maximum duration of 127 days. PAD patients without specific humoral SARS-CoV-2 immunity may suffer from severe or fatal COVID-19 despite robust T cell and normal innate immune response. Intensified monitoring for long persistence of SARS-CoV-2 viral shedding and (prophylactic) convalescent plasma/specific IgG as beneficial treatment option in severe cases with RNAemia should be considered in seronegative PAD patients.

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