Individuals with obesity who survive SARS-CoV-2 infection have preserved antigen-specific T cell frequencies

Abstract

Objective: Obesity is a major risk factor for severe disease in COVID-19, with increased hospitalization, intensive care unit admission, and mortality. This increased impact of COVID-19 in people with obesity (PWO) is likely driven, in part, by the well-described obesity-induced immune dysregulation. Obesity has also been associated with impaired immune memory in many settings, including weakened responses to hepatitis B, tetanus, rabies, and influenza vaccination. Recently, it was reported that PWO who have COVID-19 have reduced IgG antibody titers with defective neutralizing capabilities. However, it remains unknown whether PWO generate durable T cell immunity to SARS-CoV-2.

Methods: This study investigated SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell responses in a cohort of 40 patients (n = 20 PWO and n = 20 matched control individuals) who had recovered from COVID-19. T cell (CD4⁺ , CD8⁺ ) cytokine responses (IFNγ, TNFα) to SARS-CoV-2 peptide pools (spike, membrane) were determined using multicolor flow cytometry.

Results: Circulating T cells specific for SARS-CoV-2 were readily detected in the total cohort. PWO displayed comparable levels of SARS-CoV-2 spike- and membrane-specific T cells, with both T cell subsets responding.

Conclusions: These data indicate that PWO who survive COVID-19 generate robust and durable SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell immunity that is equivalent to that seen in those without obesity.