SARS-CoV-2 specific T cell responses are lower in children and increase with age and time after infection

Carolyn A. Cohen, Athena P. Y. Li, Asmaa Hachim, David S. C. Hui, Mike Y. W. Kwan, Owen T. Y. Tsang, Susan S. Chiu, Wai Hung Chan, Yat Sun Yau, Niloufar Kavian, Fionn N. L. Ma, Eric H. Y. Lau, Samuel M. S. Cheng, Leo L. M. Poon, Malik Peiris and Sophie A. Valkenburg ()
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Carolyn A. Cohen: The University of Hong Kong
Athena P. Y. Li: The University of Hong Kong
Asmaa Hachim: The University of Hong Kong
David S. C. Hui: Chinese University of Hong Kong
Mike Y. W. Kwan: Hong Kong Hospital Authority Infectious Disease Center, Princess Margaret Hospital
Owen T. Y. Tsang: Infectious Diseases Centre, Princess Margaret Hospital, Hospital Authority of Hong Kong
Susan S. Chiu: The University of Hong Kong and Queen Mary Hospital, Hospital Authority of Hong Kong
Wai Hung Chan: Hospital Authority of Hong Kong
Yat Sun Yau: Hospital Authority of Hong Kong
Niloufar Kavian: The University of Hong Kong
Fionn N. L. Ma: The University of Hong Kong
Eric H. Y. Lau: The University of Hong Kong
Samuel M. S. Cheng: The University of Hong Kong
Leo L. M. Poon: The University of Hong Kong
Malik Peiris: The University of Hong Kong
Sophie A. Valkenburg: The University of Hong Kong

Nature Communications, 2021, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-14

Abstract: Abstract SARS-CoV-2 infection of children leads to a mild illness and the immunological differences with adults are unclear. Here, we report SARS-CoV-2 specific T cell responses in infected adults and children and find that the acute and memory CD4+ T cell responses to structural SARS-CoV-2 proteins increase with age, whereas CD8+ T cell responses increase with time post-infection. Infected children have lower CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses to SARS-CoV-2 structural and ORF1ab proteins when compared with infected adults, comparable T cell polyfunctionality and reduced CD4+ T cell effector memory. Compared with adults, children have lower levels of antibodies to β-coronaviruses, indicating differing baseline immunity. Total T follicular helper responses are increased, whilst monocyte numbers are reduced, indicating rapid adaptive co-ordination of the T and B cell responses and differing levels of inflammation. Therefore, reduced prior β-coronavirus immunity and reduced T cell activation in children might drive milder COVID-19 pathogenesis.

Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-24938-4

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