COVID-19 vaccination produces exercise-responsive SARS-CoV-2-specific T-cells regardless of infection history

Purpose: The mobilization and redistribution of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV-2) specific T-cells and neutralizing antibodies during exercise is purported to increase immune surveillance and protect against severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We sought to determine if COVID-19 vaccination would elicit exercise-responsive SARS-CoV-2 T-cells and transiently alter neutralizing antibody titers. Methods: 18 healthy participants completed a 20 min bout of graded cycling exercise before and/or after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. All major leukocyte subtypes were enumerated before, during, and after exercise by flow cytometry, and immune responses to SARS CoV-2 were determined using whole blood peptide stimulation assays, T-cell receptor (TCR) sequencing, and SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody serology. Results: COVID-19 vaccination had no effect on the mobilization or egress of major leukocyte subsets in response to intensity-controlled graded exercise. However, noninfected participants had a significantly reduced mobilization of CD4+ and CD8+ naive T-cells, as well as CD4+ central memory T-cells, after vaccination (synthetic immunity group); this was not seen after vaccination in those with prior SARS CoV-2 infection (hybrid immunity group). Acute exercise after vaccination robustly mobilized SARSCoV-2 specific T-cells to blood in an intensity-dependent manner. Both groups mobilized T-cells that reacted to spike protein; however, only the hybrid immunity group mobilized T-cells that reacted to membrane and nucleocapsid antigens. Neutralizing antibodies increased significantly during exercise only in the hybrid immunity group. Conclusion: These data indicate that acute exercise mobilizes SARS CoV-2-specific Tcells that recognize spike protein and increases the redistribution of neutralizing antibodies in individuals with hybrid immunity.