Jeffery-Smith, A;
Burton, AR;
Lens, S;
Rees-Spear, C;
Davies, J;
Patel, M;
Gopal, R;
... Maini, MK; + view all
(2022)
SARS-CoV-2-specific memory B cells can persist in the elderly who have lost detectable neutralising antibodies.
Journal of Clinical Investigation
, 132
(2)
, Article e152042.. 10.1172/JCI152042.
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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.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | SARS-CoV-2-specific memory B cells can persist in the elderly who have lost detectable neutralising antibodies |
| Location: | United States |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| DOI: | 10.1172/JCI152042 |
| Publisher version: | https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI152042 |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | Copyright © 2022 Jeffery-Smith et al. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. |
| Keywords: | Adaptive immunity, COVID-19, Immunoglobulins, Immunology |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences > Div of Infection and Immunity |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10139465 |
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