Extracellular vesicles in COVID-19 convalescence can regulate T cell metabolism and function, 2023, George et al.

Extracellular vesicles in COVID-19 convalescence can regulate T cell metabolism and function
Molly S. George; Jenifer Sanchez; Christina Rollings; David Fear; Peter Irving; Linda V. Sinclair; Anna Schurich

Long-term T cell dysregulation has been reported following COVID-19 disease. Prolonged T cell activation is associated with disease severity and may be implicated in producing long-covid symptoms. Here, we assess the role of extracellular vesicles (EV) in regulating T cell function over several weeks post COVID-19 disease. We find that alterations in cellular origin and protein content of EV in COVID-19 convalescence are linked to initial disease severity.

We demonstrate that convalescent donor-derived EV can alter the function and metabolic rewiring of CD4 and CD8 T cells. Of note, EV following mild, but not severe disease, show distinctly immune-suppressive properties, reducing T cell effector cytokine production and glucose metabolism. Mechanistically our data indicate the involvement of EV-surface ICAM-1 in facilitating EV—T cell interaction. Our data demonstrate that circulatory EV are phenotypically and functionally altered several weeks following acute infection, suggesting a role for EV as long-term immune modulators.

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Also noting —

Which might have implications for herpesvirus reactivation, eg EBV. From Epstein–Barr virus and multiple sclerosis (2022, Nature Reviews Microbiology) —