T cells protect against severe corona: when a T cell test makes sense and which immune cell blood levels are ideal

Created: 2022-01-27 09:21

By: Juliane Gutmann

Blood values ​​not only indicate whether there is a nutrient deficiency: the number of immune cells can also be found out with a blood test.

© Imago

Anyone who has had Covid-19 or has been vaccinated is highly likely to develop immune cells against the coronavirus.

You can read about the role played by T cells here.

T cells, also called T lymphocytes, are white blood cells that make up part of the adaptive immune system.

If the innate (non-specific) immune system does not succeed in destroying pathogens, the acquired (specific) immune system takes over, informs the portal

as an offer of the Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG).

T cells also play an important role in coronavirus infections*.

The more immune cells of this type circulate in the blood, the better the immune system can react against an infection with Sars-CoV-2.

This is the conclusion recently reached by British scientists at Imperial College London.

They conclude from their study that T cells can protect against infection with Sars-CoV-2.

Another publication by researchers at the Francis Crick Institute in London was able to show that after corona colds (colds caused by widespread, rather harmless corona cold viruses) immune cells are formed that are also effective against the Covid pathogen Sars-CoV-2 .

*.

Also read:

T cells effective against corona can be detected shortly after vaccination

Not only a previous infection with corona cold viruses, but also a corona vaccination results in the formation of immune cells such as T cells

.

“Even ten days after the first vaccination dose, there is effective protection against a severe course of the disease.

At this point, however, neutralizing antibodies that prevent the virus from entering the cells are barely detectable.

Instead, this early protective effect is due to specific T cells that control the cellular immune response," informs Dr.

Maike Hofmann, head of a research group in the Clinic for Internal Medicine II of the University Hospital Freiburg.

T-cell test: "A positive result is not proof of immunity to Sars-CoV-2"

The lymphocytes as part of the body's immune system include T cells, B cells and NK cells (natural killer cells).

The T cells can be measured as part of the lymphocyte value measurement.

, 1,000 to 2,900 lymphocytes per microliter (µl)

are considered normal in adults.

By default, the T cell test is not used to diagnose corona.

Laboratories such as the Enders laboratory in Stuttgart inform that the Sars-CoV-2-specific T-cell test is not suitable "for detecting 'cross-immunity' or 'basic immunity' to SARS-CoV-2".

"

," the Stuttgart laboratory continues.

The T-cell test is primarily used to detect previous corona infections.

Do you suspect that you have been infected with corona viruses* in the past and want security?

In this case, doctors will recommend a corona antibody test.

If this is negative or weakly positive, a T-cell test can be carried out to be sure.