Prevalence of COVID-19-associated symptoms during acute infection in relation to SARS-CoV-2-directed humoral and cellular immune responses in a mild-diseased convalescent cohort.

OBJECTIVES

Besides SARS-CoV-2-directed humoral immune responses, T cell responses are indispensable for effective antiviral immunity. Recent data have shown a correlation between COVID-19 symptoms and humoral immune response, but so far, little is known about the association of SARS-CoV-2-directed T cell responses and disease severity. Herein, we evaluated the prevalence of different clinical COVID-19 symptoms in relation to SARS-CoV-2-directed humoral and cellular immune responses.

METHODS

The severity of eight different symptoms during acute infection were assessed using questionnaires from 193 convalescent individuals and were evaluated in relation to SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels and intensity of SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell responses 2-8 weeks after positive polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS

Although increased IgG serum levels could be associated with severity of most symptoms, no difference in T cell response intensity between different symptom severities was observed for the majority of COVID-19 symptoms. However, when analyzing loss of smell or taste and cough, awareness of more severe symptoms was associated with reduced T cell response intensities.

CONCLUSIONS

These data suggest that rapid virus clearance mediated by SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells prevents severe symptoms of COVID-19.