SARS-CoV-2-Specific T Cells Take Up Residence in the Lungs of COVID-19 Patients

Prof. Zhu presents her study of SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells in the lungs of COVID-19 patients, highlighting that these T cells are highly activated, tissue-resident, and polyfunctional. They show that lung T cell responses are distinct from blood, cannot be predicted by peripheral measurements, and are critical for viral clearance and improved lung function. The study also reveals that after infection, these T cells maintain protective roles without driving additional inflammation. Overall, this work provides key insights into the compartmentalized immune response in the lungs during COVID-19.