The role of T Cells in SARS-CoV-2 Infection
Keywords:
Vaccines, CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes, CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes, Coronavirus Infections, SARS VirusAbstract
T lymphocytes (or T cells) are characterized by having an essential role in the control of acute viral infections. SARS-CoV-2 infection is an acute viral infection that mainly affects the respiratory tract causing COVID-19 disease, which presents with mild, moderate and critical symptoms that can lead to the death of the patient. The induction of populations of CD4+ and CD8+ T cell with a functional memory phenotype could be decisive in the control of viral replication and therefore be determinants in the course of the disease. In this opinion article, we will review the reported evidence regarding the presence, phenotype, and function of circulating T cell populations and the site of infection to understand their possible role in controlling viral replication, in the severity of the disease, and the importance of T-cell-mediated protection in the development of vaccines against SARS‑CoV‑2 infection.
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