Long-lasting killer T cells that target COVID-19 and herpesvirus parts in long COVID

During severe COVID-19, EBV-specific CD8⁺ T cells exhibit a stem-like state⁺ T cells exhibit a stem-like state**.

• CD8⁺ T cells specific for SARS-CoV-2, CMV, and EBV in long COVID individuals are often terminally differentiated, exhausted, and cytolytic.
• Long COVID-associated CMV-specific CD8⁺ T cells are biased toward T central memory cells rather than terminally differentiated memory T cells.
• Cytolytic granzyme-B-expressing CD8⁺ T cells are particularly prominent in women with long COVID.
• An inability to downregulate the expression of cytolytic effectors in response to COVID-19 may lead to the persistence of cytolytic CD8⁺ T cells in long COVID patients.

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