Fig. 3: Migratory patterns of acute SARS-CoV-2-specific CD4⁺T cells.

a Net frequency of interferon (IFN)γ, CD107a, interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-10 expression in SARS-CoV-2-specific CD4⁺ T cells based on CXCR3⁺CCR7⁺ and CXCR3⁺CCR7^- subsets for each individual patient (nonhospitalized n = 14; mild n = 20 and severe n = 12). Viral proteins are shown in color green (membrane protein, M), orange (nucleocapsid protein, N) and purple (spike protein, S). Dots connected by the same line represent the same individual. Statistical comparisons were performed using two-sided nonparametric Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed rank test to compare the two groups (CXCR3 + CCR7⁺ vs. CXCR3⁺CCR7⁻): nonhospitalized (IFNγ, p = 0.016 and p = 0.016; CD107a, p = 0.031; IL-4, p = 0.008; IL-10, p = 0.008, and p = 0.0005), mild (IFNγ, p = 0.006, p = 0.005, and p = 0.006; CD107a, p = 0.035; IL-4, p = 0.004, p = 0.008, and p = 0.002), and severe (IFNγ, p = 0.005, p = 0.024, and p = 0.039; IL-4, p = 0.042). b–d Correlation between the days to discharge since symptoms onset or IL-6 and the frequency of nucleocapsid or spike-specific CD4⁺ CXCR3⁺CCR7⁺ expressing IFNγ (b), CD107a (c), or IL-4 (d). e, f Correlation between IL-6 and the frequency of membrane-specific CD4⁺ CXCR3⁺CCR7^−/+ expressing IFNγ (e) or IL-10 (f). g Correlation between the viral load and the frequency of CD4⁺ EM CXCR3⁺ expressing IL-10 after PMA/Ionomycin stimulation. Two-sided spearman rank correlation (n = 46 for all correlations except for viral load (g), which corresponds to n = 33).