FIGURE 2.

Protective and pathogenic pathways of the T‐cell response during SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. Protective T‐cell response: surrounded by a green hatched line. (a) A low inflammatory environment allows a well‐balanced differentiation of antigen‐specific T cells, contributing to viral clearance and to antibody production; (b) Antigen‐specific T cells induced by natural infection or vaccination have a broad range of viral strain recognition, including different VOCs. Pathogenic T‐cell response: surrounded by a red hatched line, includes cellular components (d–g). (c) A huge inflammatory environment induces hyperactivation of both specific and unspecific T cells; (d) The strong production of inflammatory cytokines leads to overexpression of apoptotic processes inducing lymphocyte death; (e) Lymphocyte death is associated with lymphopenia, one the main markers of severe/fatal COVID‐19; (f) Bystander‐activated unspecific T cells contribute to tissue damage.