SARS-CoV-2-Specific T Cell Responses in Immunocompromised Individuals with Cancer, HIV or Solid Organ Transplants

David B Reeg; Maike Hofmann; Christoph Neumann-Haefelin; Robert Thimme; Hendrik Luxenburger

doi:10.3390/pathogens12020244

SARS-CoV-2-Specific T Cell Responses in Immunocompromised Individuals with Cancer, HIV or Solid Organ Transplants

Pathogens. 2023 Feb 3;12(2):244. doi: 10.3390/pathogens12020244.

Authors

David B Reeg¹, Maike Hofmann¹, Christoph Neumann-Haefelin¹, Robert Thimme¹, Hendrik Luxenburger¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Medicine II (Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology and Infectious Diseases), Freiburg University Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany.

Abstract

Adaptive immune responses play an important role in the clinical course of SARS-CoV-2 infection. While evaluations of the virus-specific defense often focus on the humoral response, cellular immunity is crucial for the successful control of infection, with the early development of cytotoxic T cells being linked to efficient viral clearance. Vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 induces both CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses and permits protection from severe COVID-19, including infection with the currently circulating variants of concern. Nevertheless, in immunocompromised individuals, first data imply significantly impaired SARS-CoV-2-specific immune responses after both natural infection and vaccination. Hence, these high-risk groups require particular consideration, not only in routine clinical practice, but also in the development of future vaccination strategies. In order to assist physicians in the guidance of immunocompromised patients, concerning the management of infection or the benefit of (booster) vaccinations, this review aims to provide a concise overview of the current knowledge about SARS-CoV-2-specific cellular immune responses in the vulnerable cohorts of cancer patients, people living with HIV (PLWH), and solid organ transplant recipients (SOT). Recent findings regarding the virus-specific cellular immunity in these differently immunocompromised populations might influence clinical decision-making in the future.

Keywords: CD4+ T cells; CD8+ T cells; COVID-19; HIV; SARS-CoV-2; cancer; immunosuppression; mRNA vaccination; solid organ transplantation.

Publication types

Review

Grants and funding

This work was supported by grants from the German Research Foundation (272983813 to R.T., M.H. and C.N.-H. and 256073931 to R.T., M.H. and C.N.-H.; 413517907 to H.L.). This work was also supported by the project “Virological and immunological determinants of COVID-19 pathogenesis–lessons to get prepared for future pandemics (KA1-Co-02 “COVIPA”)”, a grant from the Helmholtz Association’s Initiative and Networking Fund (to R.T. and M.H.). H.L. is also supported by the IMM-PACT-Programme for Clinician Scientists, Department of Medicine II, Medical Center–University of Freiburg and Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation, 413517907). M.H. is also supported by the Margarete von Wrangell Fellowship (State of Baden-Wuerttemberg). The funding bodies had no role in the decision to write or submit the manuscript.