Adoptive T-cell therapies for persistent COVID-19 in immunocompromised patients: Comparison of IFN-γ virus-specific T-cell therapy and CD45RA+ T-cell depleted donor lymphocyte infusion
Dóra Mathiász
Nóra Meggyesi
János Sinkó
Gabriella Bekő
Botond Lakatos
Andrea Ceglédi
Hajnalka Andrikovics
István Vályi-Nagy
Bálint Gergely Szabó
Szabolcs Tasnády
Borisz Rabán Petrik
Judit Bogyó
Katalin Dobos
Laura Giba-Kiss
Orsolya Kis
Gottfried Miskolczi
Noémi Németh
Ilona Bobek
László Gopcsa
János Szlávik
Péter Reményi
Marienn Réti
Zsuzsanna Várnai
Anikó Szilvási
Publication Name: Geroscience
Publication Date: 2026-01-01
Volume: Unknown
Issue: Unknown
Page Range: Unknown
Description:
Advanced age, comorbidities, and immunocompromised states remain major risk factors for severe or persistent COVID-19 despite vaccination and antivirals, underscoring the need for innovative treatments such as adoptive T-cell therapy (ATT). In this prospective single-center study, we evaluated the safety, feasibility, and efficacy of two ATT approaches in immunocompromised patients with high-risk or persistent SARS-CoV-2 infection: interferon-γ cytokine capture system virus-specific T cells (IFN-γ CCS VST, n = 12; median age 59) and CD45RA + T-cell depleted donor lymphocyte infusion (CD45RA+ TCD DLI, n = 11; median age 46). Most patients (73.9%) had undergone prior hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Both treatments were safe, with no adverse events observed. One-year overall survival (OS) did not differ significantly between groups (p = 0.8907 overall; p = 0.5907 in HSCT recipients). However, CD45RA+ TCD DLI showed a trend toward improved 1-year COVID-19–free survival (p = 0.058) and significantly better survival among HSCT recipients (p = 0.0362). Viral clearance was achieved in most patients (90.9% vs. 83.3%). Immunomonitoring revealed distinct immune dynamics: between weeks 5–8, IFN-γ CCS VST promoted naïve T-cell expansion with broad cytokine elevation, while CD45RA+ TCD DLI expanded memory T cells with a more restricted cytokine profile. IFN-γ CCS VST also elicited stronger in vivo expansion of SARS-CoV-2–specific CD4 + and CD8 + T cells. In summary, both ATT approaches are safe and effective in immunocompromised patients with persistent COVID-19. CD45RA+ TCD DLI, which can be generated from convalescent donors as an off-the-shelf product, may provide a practical strategy for pandemic preparedness and treatment of vulnerable patients with immune senescence.
Open Access: Yes
Authors - 24
Dóra Mathiász
16309949100
Nóra Meggyesi
16402796700
János Sinkó
23989441600
Gabriella Bekő
26434188900
Botond Lakatos
36614563800
Andrea Ceglédi
50261343100
Hajnalka Andrikovics
55945600900
István Vályi-Nagy
56408412200
Bálint Gergely Szabó
56508025500
Szabolcs Tasnády
57195303289
Borisz Rabán Petrik
57219537916
Judit Bogyó
58475579600
Katalin Dobos
58476288000
Laura Giba-Kiss
58476288100
Orsolya Kis
58476521500
Gottfried Miskolczi
58868792000
Noémi Németh
59817262000
Ilona Bobek
6507774449
László Gopcsa
6602343700
János Szlávik
6602551338
Péter Reményi
6603458868
Marienn Réti
6701679630
Zsuzsanna Várnai
7801695475
Anikó Szilvási
8598895000