T cell response to SARS-CoV-2 infection in humans: A systematic review.
<h4>Background</h4>Understanding the T cell response to SARS-CoV-2 is critical to vaccine development, epidemiological surveillance and disease control strategies. This systematic review critically evaluates and synthesises the relevant peer-reviewed and pre-print literature published fr...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2021-01-01
|
| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0245532&type=printable |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849337228627542016 |
|---|---|
| author | Madhumita Shrotri May C I van Schalkwyk Nathan Post Danielle Eddy Catherine Huntley David Leeman Samuel Rigby Sarah V Williams William H Bermingham Paul Kellam John Maher Adrian M Shields Gayatri Amirthalingam Sharon J Peacock Sharif A Ismail |
| author_facet | Madhumita Shrotri May C I van Schalkwyk Nathan Post Danielle Eddy Catherine Huntley David Leeman Samuel Rigby Sarah V Williams William H Bermingham Paul Kellam John Maher Adrian M Shields Gayatri Amirthalingam Sharon J Peacock Sharif A Ismail |
| author_sort | Madhumita Shrotri |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <h4>Background</h4>Understanding the T cell response to SARS-CoV-2 is critical to vaccine development, epidemiological surveillance and disease control strategies. This systematic review critically evaluates and synthesises the relevant peer-reviewed and pre-print literature published from 01/01/2020-26/06/2020.<h4>Methods</h4>For this systematic review, keyword-structured literature searches were carried out in MEDLINE, Embase and COVID-19 Primer. Papers were independently screened by two researchers, with arbitration of disagreements by a third researcher. Data were independently extracted into a pre-designed Excel template and studies critically appraised using a modified version of the MetaQAT tool, with resolution of disagreements by consensus. Findings were narratively synthesised.<h4>Results</h4>61 articles were included. 55 (90%) studies used observational designs, 50 (82%) involved hospitalised patients with higher acuity illness, and the majority had important limitations. Symptomatic adult COVID-19 cases consistently show peripheral T cell lymphopenia, which positively correlates with increased disease severity, duration of RNA positivity, and non-survival; while asymptomatic and paediatric cases display preserved counts. People with severe or critical disease generally develop more robust, virus-specific T cell responses. T cell memory and effector function has been demonstrated against multiple viral epitopes, and, cross-reactive T cell responses have been demonstrated in unexposed and uninfected adults, but the significance for protection and susceptibility, respectively, remains unclear.<h4>Conclusion</h4>A complex pattern of T cell response to SARS-CoV-2 infection has been demonstrated, but inferences regarding population level immunity are hampered by significant methodological limitations and heterogeneity between studies, as well as a striking lack of research in asymptomatic or pauci-symptomatic individuals. In contrast to antibody responses, population-level surveillance of the T cell response is unlikely to be feasible in the near term. Focused evaluation in specific sub-groups, including vaccine recipients, should be prioritised. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9056c056c2f548e08d1373fccfca17b8 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj-art-9056c056c2f548e08d1373fccfca17b82025-08-20T03:44:46ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032021-01-01161e024553210.1371/journal.pone.0245532T cell response to SARS-CoV-2 infection in humans: A systematic review.Madhumita ShrotriMay C I van SchalkwykNathan PostDanielle EddyCatherine HuntleyDavid LeemanSamuel RigbySarah V WilliamsWilliam H BerminghamPaul KellamJohn MaherAdrian M ShieldsGayatri AmirthalingamSharon J PeacockSharif A Ismail<h4>Background</h4>Understanding the T cell response to SARS-CoV-2 is critical to vaccine development, epidemiological surveillance and disease control strategies. This systematic review critically evaluates and synthesises the relevant peer-reviewed and pre-print literature published from 01/01/2020-26/06/2020.<h4>Methods</h4>For this systematic review, keyword-structured literature searches were carried out in MEDLINE, Embase and COVID-19 Primer. Papers were independently screened by two researchers, with arbitration of disagreements by a third researcher. Data were independently extracted into a pre-designed Excel template and studies critically appraised using a modified version of the MetaQAT tool, with resolution of disagreements by consensus. Findings were narratively synthesised.<h4>Results</h4>61 articles were included. 55 (90%) studies used observational designs, 50 (82%) involved hospitalised patients with higher acuity illness, and the majority had important limitations. Symptomatic adult COVID-19 cases consistently show peripheral T cell lymphopenia, which positively correlates with increased disease severity, duration of RNA positivity, and non-survival; while asymptomatic and paediatric cases display preserved counts. People with severe or critical disease generally develop more robust, virus-specific T cell responses. T cell memory and effector function has been demonstrated against multiple viral epitopes, and, cross-reactive T cell responses have been demonstrated in unexposed and uninfected adults, but the significance for protection and susceptibility, respectively, remains unclear.<h4>Conclusion</h4>A complex pattern of T cell response to SARS-CoV-2 infection has been demonstrated, but inferences regarding population level immunity are hampered by significant methodological limitations and heterogeneity between studies, as well as a striking lack of research in asymptomatic or pauci-symptomatic individuals. In contrast to antibody responses, population-level surveillance of the T cell response is unlikely to be feasible in the near term. Focused evaluation in specific sub-groups, including vaccine recipients, should be prioritised.https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0245532&type=printable |
| spellingShingle | Madhumita Shrotri May C I van Schalkwyk Nathan Post Danielle Eddy Catherine Huntley David Leeman Samuel Rigby Sarah V Williams William H Bermingham Paul Kellam John Maher Adrian M Shields Gayatri Amirthalingam Sharon J Peacock Sharif A Ismail T cell response to SARS-CoV-2 infection in humans: A systematic review. PLoS ONE |
| title | T cell response to SARS-CoV-2 infection in humans: A systematic review. |
| title_full | T cell response to SARS-CoV-2 infection in humans: A systematic review. |
| title_fullStr | T cell response to SARS-CoV-2 infection in humans: A systematic review. |
| title_full_unstemmed | T cell response to SARS-CoV-2 infection in humans: A systematic review. |
| title_short | T cell response to SARS-CoV-2 infection in humans: A systematic review. |
| title_sort | t cell response to sars cov 2 infection in humans a systematic review |
| url | https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0245532&type=printable |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT madhumitashrotri tcellresponsetosarscov2infectioninhumansasystematicreview AT maycivanschalkwyk tcellresponsetosarscov2infectioninhumansasystematicreview AT nathanpost tcellresponsetosarscov2infectioninhumansasystematicreview AT danielleeddy tcellresponsetosarscov2infectioninhumansasystematicreview AT catherinehuntley tcellresponsetosarscov2infectioninhumansasystematicreview AT davidleeman tcellresponsetosarscov2infectioninhumansasystematicreview AT samuelrigby tcellresponsetosarscov2infectioninhumansasystematicreview AT sarahvwilliams tcellresponsetosarscov2infectioninhumansasystematicreview AT williamhbermingham tcellresponsetosarscov2infectioninhumansasystematicreview AT paulkellam tcellresponsetosarscov2infectioninhumansasystematicreview AT johnmaher tcellresponsetosarscov2infectioninhumansasystematicreview AT adrianmshields tcellresponsetosarscov2infectioninhumansasystematicreview AT gayatriamirthalingam tcellresponsetosarscov2infectioninhumansasystematicreview AT sharonjpeacock tcellresponsetosarscov2infectioninhumansasystematicreview AT sharifaismail tcellresponsetosarscov2infectioninhumansasystematicreview |