scholarly journals Sars-Cov-2 T-Cell Response in Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Recipients Following Two Doses of BNT162b2 Vaccine

Blood ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 138 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 2895-2895
Author(s):  
Beatrice Clemenceau ◽  
Thierry Guillaume ◽  
Marianne Coste-Burel ◽  
Pierre Peterlin ◽  
Alice Garnier ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction: Virus-specific humoral and cellular immune responses act synergistically to protect from viral infection. In our recent observational monocentric study of 117 hematopoietic stem cell adult recipients, we found that 54% and 83 % patients achieved a humoral response after two doses of BNT162b2 anti-SARS-CoV-2 messenger RNA vaccine (Pfizer BioNTech), respectively. Here, we evaluated the T-cell response against the SARS-Cov-2 spike protein after two doses of BNT162b2 vaccine in some allografted patients from the same cohort and compared these results to those from healthy controls. Methods: To quantify SARS-CoV-2 specific T-cells, we used an INFg ELISpot assay that detects these cells after activation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) with 3 peptide pools covering the whole protein sequence of the spike glycoprotein (Prot _S1; _S+ and _S PepTivator peptide pools, Miltenyi Biotec, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany). EBV and CMV specific T-cells were also quantified as controls. The immunophenotype of PBMC was determined by flow cytometry, after dead cell exclusion, with monoclonal antibodies identifying the following surface antigens: CD45, CD3, CD14, CD19 and HLA-DR. The frequencies of spot-forming units (SFU) were reported as per 10 6 CD3+ T-cells. Results: Samples from 46 allografted patients (acute myeloblastic leukemia, N=27, myelodysplastic syndrome, N=19) and 16 healthy controls were available. Characteristics of the population are given in Table 1. All fully vaccinated healthy donors became seropositive and developed a positive T-cell response to spike peptide pools even though variable frequencies were observed. The median response was 195 SFU/10 6 T-cells. By comparison, the frequency of EBV-specific T-cells was 774 SFU/10 6 T-cells (Figure 1). In the group of patients, 78% (n=36/46) had achieved a humoral response after the second dose of vaccine. Among these humoral responders (HR), 89% (n=32/36) also had a positive anti-spike T-cell response with variable frequencies (median =119 SFU/10 6 T-cells. For 8 patients, this T cell response was higher than that of controls (>800 SFU/10 6 T-cells) (Figure 1), which is equivalent to more than 1 specific T-cell per microliter of blood (Figure 2). The humoral responders (HR) who did not develop a T-cell response (11%, n=4/36) had a median time from transplant to vaccination of 523 days compared to 1032 days for cellular responder patients. Among the 10 patients who were non humoral responders (NHR) (22%, n=10/46), 4 (40%) developed a cellular immunity, including one with a very high T cell response (1333 SFU/10 6 T-cells). As expected, the absence of humoral response was observed in patients who were within one year of the transplant. Of note, somehow unexpectedly, patients often presented a high frequency of EBV- and CMV-specific T cells (Figures 1 & 2). As expected, PBMC immunophenotypic analysis revealed that CD3+ frequencies were lower in patients compared to those of controls but were similar between HR and NHR. NHR had very low frequencies of B cells and interestingly, they had an elevated frequency of CD14+ monocytes with low/neg HLA-DR expression potentially corresponding to myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) (Figure 3). Conclusion: In this series, 89% of allografted patients who developed an anti-spike humoral response also presented an anti-SARS-Cov-2 cellular immunity. Interestingly, anti-SARS-Cov-2 specific T-cells could be detected in 40% of NHR patients. Although a larger group of patients is required to confirm these results, it remains to be determined whether this T-cell response is protective against SARS-Cov-2 infection as previously demonstrated for CMV (Litjens et al, 2017). Finally, the role of potential immunosuppressive MDSCs must be explored in patients who develop no sign of T-cell response after vaccination. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Moreau: Oncopeptides: Honoraria; Celgene BMS: Honoraria; Sanofi: Honoraria; Abbvie: Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria; Amgen: Honoraria.

2011 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 815-824 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bala Ramaswami ◽  
Iulia Popescu ◽  
Camila Macedo ◽  
Chunqing Luo ◽  
Ron Shapiro ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTBK virus (BKV) nephropathy and hemorrhagic cystitis are increasingly recognized causes of disease in renal and hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients, respectively. Functional characterization of the immune response to BKV is important for clinical diagnosis, prognosis, and vaccine design. A peptide mix (PepMix) and overlapping (OPP) or random (RPP) peptide pools derived from BKV large T antigen (LTA) were used to restimulate 14-day-expanded peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 27 healthy control subjects in gamma interferon (IFN-γ)-specific enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assays. A T-cell response to LTA PepMix was detected in 15/27 subjects. A response was frequently observed with peptides derived from the helicase domain (9/15 subjects), while the DNA binding and host range domains were immunologically inert (0/15 subjects). For all nine subjects who responded to LTA peptide pools, the immune response could be explained largely by a 15-mer peptide designated P313. P313-specific CD4+T-cell clones demonstrated (i) stringent LTA peptide specificity; (ii) promiscuous recognition in the context of HLA-DR alleles; (iii) cross recognition of homologous peptides from the polyomavirus simian virus 40 (SV40); (iv) an effector memory phenotype, CD107a expression, and intracellular production of IFN-γ and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α); (v) cytotoxic activity in a chromium release assay; and (vi) the ability to directly present cognate antigen to autologous T cells. In conclusion, T-cell-mediated immunity to BKV in healthy subjects is associated with a polyfunctional population of CD4+T cells with dual T-helper and T-cytotoxic properties. HLA class II promiscuity in antigen presentation makes the targeted LTA peptide sequence a suitable candidate for inclusion in immunotherapy protocols.


2022 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
You-Seok Hyun ◽  
Yong-Hun Lee ◽  
Hyeong-A Jo ◽  
In-Cheol Baek ◽  
Sun-Mi Kim ◽  
...  

Common human coronaviruses have been circulating undiagnosed worldwide. These common human coronaviruses share partial sequence homology with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2); therefore, T cells specific to human coronaviruses are also cross-reactive with SARS-CoV-2 antigens. Herein, we defined CD4+ T cell responses that were cross-reactive with SARS-CoV-2 antigens in blood collected in 2016–2018 from healthy donors at the single allele level using artificial antigen-presenting cells (aAPC) expressing a single HLA class II allotype. We assessed the allotype-restricted responses in the 42 individuals using the aAPCs matched 22 HLA-DR alleles, 19 HLA-DQ alleles, and 13 HLA-DP alleles. The response restricted by the HLA-DR locus showed the highest magnitude, and that by HLA-DP locus was higher than that by HLA-DQ locus. Since two alleles of HLA-DR, -DQ, and -DP loci are expressed co-dominantly in an individual, six different HLA class II allotypes can be used to the cross-reactive T cell response. Of the 16 individuals who showed a dominant T cell response, five, one, and ten showed a dominant response by a single allotype of HLA-DR, -DQ, and -DP, respectively. The single allotype-restricted T cells responded to only one antigen in the five individuals and all the spike, membrane, and nucleocapsid proteins in the six individuals. In individuals heterozygous for the HLA-DPA and HLA-DPB loci, four combinations of HLA-DP can be expressed, but only one combination showed a dominant response. These findings demonstrate that cross-reactive T cells to SARS-CoV-2 respond with single-allotype dominance.


Blood ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 126 (23) ◽  
pp. 3140-3140
Author(s):  
Yu-tong Wang ◽  
Yuan Kong ◽  
Yang Song ◽  
Zheng-Fan Jiang ◽  
Xiao-jun Huang

Abstract Background: Poor graft function (PGF), a kind of bone marrow (BM) failure syndrome, is a serious complication after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Nevertheless, the exact mechanisms underlying PGF remain unclear. The BM immune micro-environment is considered to be involved in the regulation of murine hematopoiesis. Dysregulated T cell response was found to suppress proliferation and induce apoptosis of hematopoietic progenitor cells in patients with aplastic anemia. Therefore, we conducted a study to analyze the alteration of T cell subpopulations in BM micro-environment of allotransplant patients. Aims: To compare the cellular compositions and function of T cells in BM micro-environment between patients with PGF and good graft function (GGF) after allo-HSCT in Peking University Institute of Hematology. Methods: Using a prospective nested case-control study, the active phenotype and memory phenotype of CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells in BM were analyzed by flow cytometry in 12 patients with PGF, 36 matched patients with GGF after allo-HSCT, and 15 healthy donors (HDs). Furthermore, the cytokine secretion function of CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells were evaluated after simulation and the level of eight Th1 and Th2 cytokines in BM plasma were detection by cytometric beads assay. Results: The demographic and clinical characteristics were similar between allo-HSCT patients with PGF and those with GGF. Although the PGF patients presented a significant lymphopenia, a notable increased percentage of activated CD8+ T cells was detected in the BM of PGF patients when compared to that in GGF patients (61.7% versus 35.0%, P =.02). Moreover, the in vitro cytokine stimulated tests demonstrated a significant higher proportion of Tc1 in PGF patients (46.1% versus 20.3% versus 28.4%, P <.005), an elevated percentage of Th1 in PGF compared with HDs (38.5% versus 21.7%, P <.005), a higher percentage of Th2 (4.5% versus 2.1% versus 2.3%, P <.005) and a dramatically decreased percentage of Tc2 in PGF (0.6% versus 2.0% versus 2.0%, P <.0001). Therefore, a significant elevation in the ratio of Th1/Th2 (19.73 versus 7.39 versus 6.91, P <.0001) and Tc1/Tc2 (67.25 versus 10.07 versus 14.57, P <.005) were observed in PGF when compared with those in GGF and HDs. The changes of IFN-gama and IL-4 levels in BM plasma detected by cytometric beads assay were in accordance with the intracellular cytokine results analyzed by flow cytometry. Summary/Conclusion: Both the in vitro intracellular cytokine testing after stimulation and the BM plasma cytokine detection provides evidence that CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were polarized towards a type-1 cytokine response in patients with PGF, suggesting that the dysfunction of T cell response in BM immune micro-environment may hamper the hematopoietic recovery after allo-HSCT. Acknowledgment: Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant nos. 81370638&81230013), and the Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Program (grant nos. Z141100000214011& Z151100004015164& Z151100001615020). Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


Blood ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 122 (21) ◽  
pp. 2014-2014
Author(s):  
Cornelis A.M. van Bergen ◽  
Simone A.P. Van Luxemburg-Heijs ◽  
Matthijs Eefting ◽  
Maria W. Honders ◽  
Inge Jedema ◽  
...  

Abstract Donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI) after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT) can be a curative treatment for patients with hematological malignancies due to the capacity of allo-reactive donor derived T cells to mediate a curative potent graft versus leukemia (GVL) effect. However, associated acute graft versus host disease (GVHD) remains a major risk. To study the role of CD8+ T cells in GVL reactivity and GVHD, we selected patients who responded to DLI (without preceding cytoreductive treatment) for recurrent disease or incomplete donor chimerism after alloSCT. The patients were grouped according to absence (7 patients) or presence (6 patients) of GVHD. To quantify the number of circulating activated CD8+ T cells before DLI and at the time of disease regression or conversion to full donor chimerism we measured the frequencies of CD8+ HLA-DR+ T cells in peripheral blood samples by flowcytometry. Before DLI, highly variable numbers of CD8+ HLA-DR+ T cells were found (37.8 ± 42.9 x106/L), that significantly increased after DLI (309±473 x106/L, p<0.005), demonstrating involvement of CD8+ HLA-DR+ T cells in immune responses after DLI. To determine the specificity and functional avidity of the CD8+ HLA-DR+ T cells, these cells were isolated using flowcytometric cell sorting and clonally expanded. From a total of 30 samples, on average 225 T cell clones per sample were obtained and tested for recognition of patient and donor derived EBV-LCL, CD40L stimulated B cells (CD40L-B cells) and monocyte derived dendritic cells (monoDC). Surprisingly, in many samples from both patient cohorts high percentages of clones recognizing EBV-LCL derived from both patient and donor but not recognizing CD40L-B cells and monoDC were found. These T cells may be involved in anti-EBV responses irrespective of the presence of a GVL effect or GVHD. To investigate whether the magnitude of the allo-immune response was different in patients with or without GVHD coinciding the GVL effect, we compared the frequencies of allo-reactive T cell clones in samples from both patient groups. Significantly lower percentages of allo-reactive T cell clones were found in patients without GVHD as compared to patients with GVHD (5.1 ± 7.0% versus 32.5 ± 20.0% respectively, p<0.01), showing that coinciding GVHD is associated with an increased magnitude of the allo-reactive T cell response. Per patient, we determined the number of unique antigens targeted by the isolated T cell clones by characterizing the targeted MiHA using whole genome association scanning. In line with the lower total number of allo-reactive T cells, a lower number of unique MiHA was targeted in patients without GVHD (2.7±3.5) as compared to patients with GVHD (10.2±5.8, p=0.015). To determine whether occurrence of GVHD could be explained by the tissue specificity and functional avidity of the allo-reactive T cell response after DLI, we tested the T cell clones obtained from both patient cohorts for recognition of fibroblasts (FB) derived from skin biopsies of the patient. To mimic pro-inflammatory conditions, FB were pretreated for 4 days with 100 IU/ml IFN-γ. Recognition of untreated FB was exclusively mediated by T cell clones obtained from patients with GVHD, whereas recognition of IFN-γ pretreated FB was found for clones isolated from patients with or without coinciding GVHD. In addition, several T cell clones isolated from patients without GVHD were found to be directed against MiHA encoded by genes with a broad expression profile in non-hematopoietic cells comprising FB, despite absence of FB recognition under non-inflammatory conditions. This suggests that in addition to the tissue expression profile of the MiHA other factors, comprising the local inflammatory milieu, play a role in the risk of developing GVHD. In conclusion, our data show a strong correlation between the magnitude and the functional avidity of the allo-reactive CD8+ T cell response and the occurrence of GVHD after DLI. We hypothesize that the limited production of pro-inflammatory cytokines due to the moderate magnitude of the immune response in patients mounting a GVL response without coinciding GVHD reactivity may have prevented the induction of GVHD by the lower avidity allo-reactive T cells, that under pro inflammatory conditions can mediate GVHD by recognition of normal non-hematopoietic cells of the patient. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (17) ◽  
pp. 3309-3321
Author(s):  
Jeremy D. Rubinstein ◽  
Xiang Zhu ◽  
Thomas Leemhuis ◽  
Giang Pham ◽  
Lorraine Ray ◽  
...  

Abstract Infection with adenoviruses is a common and significant complication in pediatric patients after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Treatment options with traditional antivirals are limited by poor efficacy and significant toxicities. T-cell reconstitution is critical for the management of adenoviral infections, but it generally takes place months after transplantation. Ex vivo–generated virus-specific T cells (VSTs) are an alternative approach for viral control and can be rapidly generated from either a stem cell donor or a healthy third-party donor. In the context of a single-center phase 1/2 clinical trial, we treated 30 patients with a total of 43 infusions of VSTs for adenoviremia and/or adenoviral disease. Seven patients received donor-derived VSTs, 21 patients received third-party VSTs, and 2 received VSTs from both donor sources. Clinical responses were observed in 81% of patients, with a complete response in 58%. Epitope prediction and potential epitope identification for common HLA molecules helped elucidate HLA restriction in a subset of patients receiving third-party products. Intracellular interferon-γ expression in T cells in response to single peptides and response to cell lines stably transfected with a single HLA molecule demonstrated HLA-restricted CD4+ T-cell response, and these results correlated with clinical outcomes. Taken together, these data suggest that VSTs are a highly safe and effective therapy for the management of adenoviral infection in immunocompromised hosts. The trials were registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT02048332 and #NCT02532452.


Blood ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 108 (11) ◽  
pp. 5176-5176
Author(s):  
Dumrul Gulen ◽  
Robert G. Bociek ◽  
Ugur Coskun ◽  
Marcel P. Devetten ◽  
James E. Talmadge

Abstract Alemtuzumab (a humanized murine monoclonal antibody [MAb] against CD52) is an effective drug for in vitro T cell purging of allogeneic stem cell products when a product is incubated with 10mg of antibody for 30 minutes prior to infusion. Recovery of CD34+ cells has been excellent and T cell purging with alemtuzumab has resulted in a decreased incidence of grade 2–4 GVHD and a reduced incidence of extensive GVHD and a low overall risk of graft failure. However, a higher incidence of cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation, respiratory and polyoma virus infections have been observed as has an increased relapse rate in patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia. In vitro purging, using alemtuzumab and infusion of unwashed products, has been associated with a reduced incidence of clinically significant GVHD, an increase in infectious complications and a possible increase in relapse rates. The present studies optimize the purging protocol and examine the mechanism of alemtuzumab purging to identify the role of antibody dependant cell mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) versus antibody dependant complement mediated cytotoxicity (Ab–C’). Both ADCC and Ab–C’ mediated cytotoxicity were active, although ADCC was noticeably more effective. However, cellular viability was improved by incubation with 10% autologous serum. A two hour incubation (1–2×01e8 cells/ml) resulted in a 73% reduction in CD3+ cells, which was increased to 85% after a 16 hour co-incubation. In addition, natural killer (NK) and B cells were purged with alemtuzumab; as were lineage negative (Lin−)-HLA-DR+CD123+ dendritic cells (DCs) but not Lin-HLA-DR+CD11c+ DCs. Immature myeloid suppressor cells (IMSCs), which are Lin−DR−CD33+ or DR−CD14−CD11b+, have a low sensitivity to alemtuzumab cytotoxicity as did hematopoietic progenitor cells (CFU-c function or CD34+ number). This is an exciting observation as IMSCs have the potential to induce T cell tolerance. Optimal T cell purging, with retention of CD34+ hematopoietic stem cell number and activity, requires a 4–6 hr co-incubation of 2×10e8/ml hematopoietic stem cells, 100 ug/ml alemtuzumab in 10% autologous serum at 4C and removal of alemtuzumab by washing in Plasma-Lyte. Co-incubation at 4C and the presence of 10% autologous serum, was required to minimize the toxicity of a 24 hr co-incubation using a high frequency (1–2×10e8/ml) of hematopoietic cells. The selective depletion of T cells, with a retention of IMSCs, suggests that such a purging protocol has potential to not only reduce acute and chronic GVHD but to also induce major histocompatibility complex tolerance. However, our clinical studies need to be completed in order to assess the impact on leukemic relapse.


Blood ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 114 (22) ◽  
pp. 2214-2214
Author(s):  
Hugues de Lavallade ◽  
Melanie Hart ◽  
Ian H Gabriel ◽  
Peter Kelleher ◽  
Abdullah Alsuliman ◽  
...  

Abstract Abstract 2214 Poster Board II-191 Imatinib (IM), nilotinib and dasatinib are remarkably effective as single-agent treatments for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in chronic phase (CP). However little is known on their potential impact on the immune system and to date no human in vivo data are available. Data from in vitro and animal studies on the effects of IM on the immune response have been contradictory ranging from impaired antigen-specific T-cell response to enhanced stimulation of tolerant T cells. In addition few data are available to assess potential immunomodulatory effects of the second-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) nilotinib and dasatinib. Dasatinib has inhibitory activity against a broader range of protein kinases than imatinib including the Src family kinases Lck and Fyn, both of which are associated with T-cell receptor primary signal transduction pathways. Dasatinib may also inhibit B cell signaling through the Lyn pathway which may have potential implications for immunotherapeutic strategies. An understanding of the effects of different TKIs on the immune response will have implications for the development of immunotherapeutic strategies. The aim of this study was to prospectively analyze humoral and cellular immune responses to vaccination against influenza virus (Flu) and Pneumococcus in CP-CML patients treated with IM, dasatinib or nilotinib compared to healthy controls. Fifty CP-CML patients on standard dose TKIs (IM, n=22; dasatinib, n=15; nilotinib, n=13) and 15 healthy controls were vaccinated against Flu (Inflenza vaccine Ph. Eur. 2008/2009, CSL biotherapies) and pneumococcus (Pneumovax II, Sanofi Pasteur MSD). Samples were taken pre and at 1 and 3 months post-vaccination. Titers of IgM and IgG anti-pneumococcal were determined using ELISA technology. A positive response was defined as an IgM serum titer >100 U/ml at 1 month; IgG response was considered positive for IgG >200 U/ml at 1 or 3 months. To investigate possible correlation between B cell subsets and the pneumococcal humoral response we evaluated IgM memory B cells (CD19+ CD27+ IgMhigh IgDlow) and switched memory B cell (CD19+ CD27+ IgM- IgD-) subsets using flow cytometry. We analyzed the immunological T-cell response to influenza virus both quantitatively and qualitatively using flow cytometry for intracellular TNF-α, IFN-gamma and IL2 and the cytotoxicity marker CD107a. A response was considered positive if there was a minimum of 0.10% Flu-specific TNF-α producing T-cells and the percentage of antigen-specific TNF-α producing T-cells was 2-fold or higher compared to pre-vaccination level. Preliminary results on 28 patients and 11 healthy controls have been analyzed thus far. Significantly fewer patients on TKIs mounted an anti-pneumococcal IgM response (IgM serum titer > 100 U/ml) compared to healthy controls (9/28 versus 8/11, p=0.033). An anti-pneumococcal IgM response was detected in 20%, 37.5% and 40% of CML patients on dasatinib, nilotinib and IM respectively, and in 73% of the healthy controls. Moreover, patients on TKI had significantly lower levels of anti-pneumococcal IgM at 1 month compared to healthy controls (median, 84.5 U/ml, range 5 to 200 vs 200 U/ml, range 15 to 200, p=0.006). At 1 month the median levels of IgM in patients on dasatinib, nilotinib and IM were 55 U/ml (range, 12 to 172), 87 U/ml (range, 8-138) and 90 U/ml (range, 5 to 200) respectively. We have so far analyzed CD8 and CD4 T cell responses to Flu vaccination in 15 patients on TKI and 5 healthy controls. Prior to vaccination, T cell responses against Flu were detected in 4/15 patients on TKI and 1/5 healthy controls, indicating pre-existing memory T cell responses to Flu. In these subjects the T-cell response to Flu did not increase significantly after vaccination and as such the response was defined as negative. A significant T-cell response to Flu was seen in 7/15 patients on TKI (median 0.28% TNF-α+CD4+ T cells, range 0.10–2.25%) and in 3/5 healthy control (median 0.79% TNF-α+CD4+T cells, range 0.12–1.34%). These preliminary results suggest that in patients with CML on TKIs the IgM B cell response to vaccination with Pneumovax is significantly impaired compared to healthy controls. We have as yet not detected a significant difference in T-cell response following vaccination with Flu in CML patients on TKIs compared to healthy controls. We are in the process of analyzing the remaining samples. Disclosures: Marin: Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding.


Science ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. eabg8985
Author(s):  
Jun Siong Low ◽  
Daniela Vaqueirinho ◽  
Federico Mele ◽  
Mathilde Foglierini ◽  
Josipa Jerak ◽  
...  

The identification of CD4+ T cell epitopes is instrumental for the design of subunit vaccines for broad protection against coronaviruses. Here we demonstrate in COVID-19-recovered individuals a robust CD4+ T cell response to naturally processed SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) and nucleoprotein (N), including effector, helper, and memory T cells. By characterizing 2943 S-reactive T cell clones from 34 individuals, we found that 34% of clones and 93% of individuals recognized a conserved immunodominant S346-365 region within the RBD comprising nested HLA-DR- and HLA-DP-restricted epitopes. Using pre- and post-COVID-19 samples and S proteins from endemic coronaviruses, we identify cross-reactive T cells targeting multiple S protein sites. The immunodominant and cross-reactive epitopes identified can inform vaccination strategies to counteract emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Carlisle ◽  
Caroline Jansen ◽  
Maria Cardenas ◽  
Ewelina Soierajska ◽  
Adriana Reyes Moon ◽  
...  

Abstract We investigated changes in T cell responses in the peripheral blood of patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) after receiving immunotherapy. We found that a small proportion of both CD4 and CD8 cells activate and express the proliferation marker Ki67 and the activation markers HLA-DR and CD38. Patients who had the highest increase in these HLA-DR+CD38+ CD8 T cells after treatment had the best anti-tumor response. We studied these newly activated cells in more detail using flow cytometry and RNAseq and found that while these cells expanded in most patients, their phenotype did not drastically change during treatment. However, when we analyzed the TCR repertoire of these HLA-DR+CD38+CD8+ T cells, we found only patients who responded to the treatment had a burst of new clonotypes enter this pool of activated cells. Finally, we investigated how the T-cell response in the resected tumor months or years before receiving checkpoint therapy predicted later response to checkpoint therapy. Together, these data suggest that having a strong pre-existing immune response and immediate T cell response to checkpoint therapy is a predictor of anti-tumor response in patients with RCC.


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