Anft & Babel: "Detection of pre-existing SARS-CoV-2-reactive T cells in unexposed renal transplant patients"; fascinating study of past & showed Pre-existing SARS-CoV-2-reactive T cells detected

in majority of unexposed patients & healthy persons. RTx patients 13/20 showed CD4+ T cells reactive against at least 1 SARS-CoV-2 protein. CD8+ T cells reactive against at least 1 SARS-CoV-2 protein

SOURCE:

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40620-021-01092-0

“Fifty-seven patients were included in this case–control study. We compared the frequency of SARS-CoV-2-reactive T cells in the samples of 20 renal transplant (RTx) patients to 20 age/gender matched non-immunosuppressed/immune competent healthy individuals collected before the onset of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Seventeen coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients were used as positive controls. T cell reactivity against Spike-, Nucleocapsid-, and Membrane- SARS-CoV-2 proteins were analyzed by multi-parameter flow cytometry. Antibodies were analyzed by neutralization assay.

Results

Pre-existing SARS-CoV-2-reactive T cells were detected in the majority of unexposed patients and healthy individuals. In RTx patients, 13/20 showed CD4+ T cells reactive against at least one SARS-CoV-2 protein. CD8+ T cells reactive against at least one SARS-CoV-2 protein were demonstrated in 12/20 of RTx patients. The frequency and Th1 cytokine expression pattern of pre-formed SARS-CoV-2 reactive T cells did not differ between RTx and non-immunosuppressed healthy individuals.”