title: Characterization of SARS-CoV-specific memory T cells from recovered individuals 4 years after infection.
abstract: SARS-CoV infection of human results in antigen-specific cellular and humoral immune responses. However, it is critical to determine whether SARS-CoV-specific memory T cells can persist for long periods of time. In this study, we analyzed the cellular immune response from 21 SARS-recovered individuals who had been diagnosed with SARS in 2003 by using ELISA, CBA, ELISpot and multiparameter flow cytometry assays. Our results demonstrated that low levels of specific memory T cell responses to SARS-CoV S, M, E and N peptides were detected in a proportion of SARS-recovered patients, and IFN-gamma was the predominant cytokine produced by T cells after stimulation with peptides. Cytometry analysis indicated that the majority of memory CD8(+) T cells produced IFN-gamma, whereas memory CD4(+) T cells produced IFN-gamma, IL-2 or TNF-alpha. These results might provide valuable information on the cellular immune response in recovered SARS-CoV patients for the rational design of vaccines against SARS-CoV infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yan-Ying
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Zi-Tong
authors.initials: ZT
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Man-Hui
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Richard A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Koup
authors.forename: Robert T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Bailer
authors.forename: Chang-You
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000917:Antibody Formation; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D015195:Drug Design; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D045473:Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus / Q000276:immunology*; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D013997:Time Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007371:Interferon-gamma