SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein suppresses CTL-mediated killing by inhibiting immune synapse assembly

CTL-mediated killing of virally infected or malignant cells is orchestrated at a specialized intercellular junction, the immune synapse (IS). We hypothesized that SARS-CoV-2 may target IS assembly in CTLs to escape killing. We show that primary human CD8+ T cells strongly upregulate the expression of ACE2, the Spike protein receptor, during differentiation to CTLs. CTL pre-incubation with the Wuhan or Omicron Spike variants inhibits IS assembly and function, as shown by defective synaptic accumulation of TCRs and tyrosine phosphoproteins as well as defective centrosome and lytic granule polarisation to the IS, resulting in impaired target cell killing. These defects were reversed by anti-Spike antibodies that interfere with ACE2 binding and were reproduced by ACE2 engagement with Angiotensin-II or an anti-ACE2 antibody, but not by the ACE2 product Ang (1-7). These results highlight a new strategy of immune evasion by SARS-CoV-2 based on the Spike-dependent, ACE2-mediated targeting of the lytic IS to prevent the elimination of infected cells. Summary statement We report a new mechanism of immune evasion by SARS-CoV-2 based on direct disabling CTLs to form immune synapses through Spike protein binding to ACE2. This mechanism could contribute to the failure of the immune system to control SARS-CoV-2 infection.