Journal-Based CME: SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Recovery in Children: Distinct T Cell Responses in MIS-C Compared to COVID-19

Wednesday, May 3, 2023, 10:00 AM - Sunday, May 3, 2026, 11:00 PM

This Journal-Based CME activity consists of a full-text article that is free to read, a multiple-choice question test, and an evaluation/self-assessment. Learners are tested on their comprehension of the key concepts, with the objective of enriching their clinical practice and patient care through better understanding of scientific advances and new techniques in the fields covered by Journal of Experimental Medicine (JEM).

Questions for this complimentary, online-only activity have been designed by JEM editors in collaboration with the article authors. Each CME activity should take approximately 1 hour to complete.

The article selected for this activity is SARS-CoV-2 infection and recovery in children: Distinct T cell responses in MIS-C compared to COVID-19 by Ksenia Rybkina, Joseph N. Bell, Marissa C. Bradley, Teddy Wohlbold, Marika Scafuro, Wenzhao Meng, Rebecca C. Korenberg, Julia Davis-Porada, Brett R. Anderson, Rachel J. Weller, Joshua Milner, Anne Moscona, Matteo Porotto, Eline T. Luning Prak, Kalpana Pethe, and Thomas J. Connors and Donna L. Farber of the Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York, NY.

Article Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 infection for most children results in mild or minimal symptoms, though in rare cases severe disease can develop, including a multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C) with myocarditis. Here, we present longitudinal profiling of immune responses during acute disease and following recovery in children who developed MIS-C, relative to children who experienced more typical symptoms of COVID-19. T cells in acute MIS-C exhibited transient signatures of activation, inflammation, and tissue residency which correlated with cardiac disease severity, while T cells in acute COVID-19 upregulated markers of follicular helper T cells for promoting antibody production. The resultant memory immune response in recovery showed increased frequencies of virus-specific memory T cells with proinflammatory functions in children with prior MIS-C compared to COVID-19 while both cohorts generated comparable antibody responses. Together our results reveal differential effector and memory T cell responses in pediatric SARS-CoV-2 infection delineated by clinical syndrome, providing a potential role for tissue-derived T cells in the immune pathology of systemic disease.

About Journal of Experimental Medicine (JEM) and CME Activities

The Journal of Experimental Medicine (JEM) publishes peer-reviewed papers within the field of medical biology, providing novel conceptual insights into immunology, cancer biology, neuroscience, inflammation, vascular biology, microbial pathogenesis, and stem cell biology. These studies range from original findings on all aspects of disease pathogenesis to novel therapeutic approaches. Articles designated for Journal-Based CME have been selected by JEM editors for their clinical relevance and ability to address practice-based gaps.

Select the 'Course Content' tab at the top of this page in order to access the full article and claim CME credit.

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, the Journal of Experimental Medicine (JEM) and Rockefeller University Press. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

AMA Credit Designation Statement

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Recorded/Review Date: May 3, 2023 | Original Release Date: May 3, 2023 | Termination Date: May 3, 2026

Mitigation of Relevant Financial Relationships

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center adheres to the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CE activity, including faculty, planners, reviewers or others are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (commercial interests). All relevant conflicts of interest have been mitigated prior to the commencement of the activity.