tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
J Clin Invest
. 2021 Nov 29;e152042.
doi: 10.1172/JCI152042. Online ahead of print.
SARS-CoV-2-specific memory B cells can persist in the elderly who have lost detectable neutralising antibodies
Anna Jeffery-Smith[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Alice R Burton[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Sabela Lens[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Chloe Rees-Spear[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Jessica Davies[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Monika Patel[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Robin Gopal[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Luke Muir[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Felicity Aiano[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Katie J Doores[SUP] 4 [/SUP], J Yimmy Chow[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Shamez N Ladhani[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Maria Zambon[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Laura E McCoy[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Mala K Maini[SUP] 1 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
Memory B cells (MBC) can provide a recall response able to supplement waning antibodies with an affinity-matured response better able to neutralise variant viruses. We studied a cohort of elderly care home residents and younger staff (median age 87yrs and 56yrs respectively) who had survived COVID-19 outbreaks with only mild/asymptomatic infection. The cohort was selected to enrich for a high proportion who had lost neutralising antibodies (nAb), to specifically investigate the reserve immunity from SARS-CoV-2-specific MBC in this setting. Class-switched spike and RBD-tetramer-binding MBC persisted five months post-mild/asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection, irrespective of age. The majority of spike/RBD-specific MBC had a classical phenotype but activated memory B cells, that may indicate ongoing antigenic stimulation or inflammation, were expanded in the elderly. Spike/RBD-specific MBC remained detectable in the majority who had lost nAb, although at lower frequencies and with a reduced IgG/IgA isotype ratio. Functional spike/S1/RBD-specific recall was also detectable by ELISpot in some who had lost nAb, but was significantly impaired in the elderly. Our findings demonstrate a reserve of SARS-CoV-2-specific MBC persists beyond loss of nAb, but highlight the need for careful monitoring of functional defects in spike/RBD-specific B cell immunity in the elderly.
Keywords: Adaptive immunity; COVID-19; Immunoglobulins; Immunology.
. 2021 Nov 29;e152042.
doi: 10.1172/JCI152042. Online ahead of print.
SARS-CoV-2-specific memory B cells can persist in the elderly who have lost detectable neutralising antibodies
Anna Jeffery-Smith[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Alice R Burton[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Sabela Lens[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Chloe Rees-Spear[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Jessica Davies[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Monika Patel[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Robin Gopal[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Luke Muir[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Felicity Aiano[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Katie J Doores[SUP] 4 [/SUP], J Yimmy Chow[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Shamez N Ladhani[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Maria Zambon[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Laura E McCoy[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Mala K Maini[SUP] 1 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 34843448
- DOI: 10.1172/JCI152042
Abstract
Memory B cells (MBC) can provide a recall response able to supplement waning antibodies with an affinity-matured response better able to neutralise variant viruses. We studied a cohort of elderly care home residents and younger staff (median age 87yrs and 56yrs respectively) who had survived COVID-19 outbreaks with only mild/asymptomatic infection. The cohort was selected to enrich for a high proportion who had lost neutralising antibodies (nAb), to specifically investigate the reserve immunity from SARS-CoV-2-specific MBC in this setting. Class-switched spike and RBD-tetramer-binding MBC persisted five months post-mild/asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection, irrespective of age. The majority of spike/RBD-specific MBC had a classical phenotype but activated memory B cells, that may indicate ongoing antigenic stimulation or inflammation, were expanded in the elderly. Spike/RBD-specific MBC remained detectable in the majority who had lost nAb, although at lower frequencies and with a reduced IgG/IgA isotype ratio. Functional spike/S1/RBD-specific recall was also detectable by ELISpot in some who had lost nAb, but was significantly impaired in the elderly. Our findings demonstrate a reserve of SARS-CoV-2-specific MBC persists beyond loss of nAb, but highlight the need for careful monitoring of functional defects in spike/RBD-specific B cell immunity in the elderly.
Keywords: Adaptive immunity; COVID-19; Immunoglobulins; Immunology.