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Clinical Context
Both cellular and humoral immunity are important in the defense against viral infections, and a study by Breton and colleagues[1] evaluated the cellular immune response to SARS-CoV-2 among 41 adult patients with a previous positive reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction test for the virus. The sample was 63.4% male and represented a wide range of ages. Most participants had mild COVID-19. Participants were followed for 6 months to assess the durability of the cellular immune response to SARS-CoV-2.
The proportion of cluster of differentiation (CD)4+ T cells decreased at 1.3 months after infection whereas the concentration of CD8+ T cells increased at this time. By 6.1 months after infection, levels of both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells had returned to physiologic levels. Central memory CD4+ and CD8+ T cells also decreased by month 6.
On in vitro testing with SARS-CoV-2 peptides, convalescent plasma from participants demonstrated a robust response of memory markers and inflammatory molecules. This response declined by only 22% to 32% by month 6.1 after infection. As a comparison, the inflammatory responses to cytomegalovirus peptides remained unchanged over the 6-month study period.
The authors concluded that a robust cellular immune response is likely for at least 6 months after infection with SARS-CoV-2, but what about the humoral response? Another study by Turner and colleagues examines this issue and is summarized under "Study Highlights."
Read more here : https://www.medscape.org/viewarticle/953771?src=WNL_cmemp_210716_mscpedu_fmed&impID=3508633&faf=1
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