Fig. 7: Protection from infection is associated with expansion of Spike-specific tissue-resident CD8 memory T cells and early infiltration of cells into the lungs. | Nature Communications

Fig. 7: Protection from infection is associated with expansion of Spike-specific tissue-resident CD8 memory T cells and early infiltration of cells into the lungs.

From: Coordinated early immune response in the lungs is required for effective control of SARS-CoV-2 replication

Fig. 7

A CD69+ CD103+ S-specific tissue-resident CD8 memory T cells (TRM) (red) appear in the BAL, but not blood, after XBB.1.5 infection. CD8 memory T cells (gray) are shown for comparison. B CCR7 expression on naïve CD8 T cells in blood (white) and S-specific TRM cells in BAL (red). C CCR7 and CD45RA surface expression on S-specific CD8 T cells in blood and BAL and S-specific CD8 TRM cells in BAL. D Representation of memory T cell phenotypes in blood and BAL in different CD8 T cell populations (n = 15). E A schematic timeline of SARS-CoV-2 exposures in hybrid immune and infected-only group. F–H Frequency of S-specific CD8 memory T cells in the blood (F) and BAL (G), and S-specific CD8 TRM cells in the BAL (H) at timepoints presented in panel (E) (n = 3–12 biological replicates per group). I Frequency of S-specific CD8 memory T cells in the blood of protected and not protected animals (n = 7–8 biological replicates per group). J Frequency of S-specific CD8 memory and S-specific CD8 TRM cells in the BAL of protected and not protected animals (n = 7–8 biological replicates per group). K Expansion of S-specific CD8 TRM cells in the lungs of protected animals at SARS-CoV-2 reinfection (week 29) compared to the first infection (week -40) (n = 7–8 biological replicates per group). L sPLS-DA analysis, based on immune parameters collected at peak vaccine immunity (week 2), before (week 19), and after XBB.1.5 infection (weeks 27–29). M Contribution of different variables to the sPLS-DA components 1 and 2. “Peak_” indicates a measurement two weeks after bivalent booster (study week 2), “Pre_” indicates a measurement before XBB.1.5 infection (study week 19 or 27), and “Post_” indicates a measurement after the XBB.1.5 infection (study week 27 + 2 days to study week 29). Data is presented as arithmetic mean ± SEM (D, I, J). Statistical analysis was performed using a non-parametric two-tailed Mann-Whitney test (I, J) or non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis test with Dunn’s correction for multiple analysis (K). Source data are provided as a Source Data file.

Back to article page