Institute of Virology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn 53127, Germany; German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Bonn-Cologne, Braunschweig 38124, Germany.
German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Bonn-Cologne, Braunschweig 38124, Germany; Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, 53127, Germany.
Cell Rep. 2021 Jun 29;35(13):109320. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109320. Epub 2021 Jun 11.
Memory B cells seem to be more durable than antibodies and thus crucial for the long-term immunity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Here we investigate SARS-CoV-2 spike-specific memory B cells and their dependence on CD4 T cell help in different settings of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Compared with severely ill individuals, those who recovered from mild COVID-19 develop fewer but functionally superior spike-specific memory B cells. Generation and affinity maturation of these cells is best associated with IL-21CD4 T cells in recovered individuals and CD40LCD4 T cells in severely ill individuals. The increased activation and exhaustion of memory B cells observed during COVID-19 correlates with CD4 T cell functions. Intriguingly, CD4 T cells recognizing membrane protein show a stronger association with spike-specific memory B cells than those recognizing spike or nucleocapsid proteins. Overall, we identify CD4 T cell subsets associated with the generation of B cell memory during SARS-CoV-2 infection.
记忆 B 细胞似乎比抗体更持久，因此对于对抗严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒 2（SARS-CoV-2）感染的长期免疫力至关重要。在这里，我们研究了 SARS-CoV-2 刺突特异性记忆 B 细胞及其在不同 2019 年冠状病毒病（COVID-19）背景下对 CD4 T 细胞辅助的依赖性。与重症患者相比，从轻度 COVID-19 中康复的患者产生的刺突特异性记忆 B 细胞数量较少，但功能更优越。这些细胞的产生和亲和力成熟与恢复期个体中的 IL-21CD4 T 细胞和重症患者中的 CD40LCD4 T 细胞关系最为密切。在 COVID-19 期间观察到的记忆 B 细胞的过度激活和耗竭与 CD4 T 细胞功能相关。有趣的是，识别膜蛋白的 CD4 T 细胞与刺突特异性记忆 B 细胞的关联比识别刺突或核衣壳蛋白的 CD4 T 细胞更强。总的来说，我们确定了与 SARS-CoV-2 感染期间 B 细胞记忆产生相关的 CD4 T 细胞亚群。
