Studies on the interactions between SARS-CoV-2 and humoral immunity are fundamental to elaborate effective therapies including vaccines. We used polychromatic flow cytometry, coupled with unsupervised data analysis and principal component analysis (PCA), to interrogate B cells in untreated patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. COVID-19 patients displayed normal plasma levels of the main immunoglobulin classes, of antibodies against common antigens or against antigens present in common vaccines. However, we found a decreased number of total and naïve B cells, along with decreased percentages and numbers of memory switched and unswitched B cells. On the contrary, IgM+ and IgM− plasmablasts were significantly increased. In vitro cell activation revealed that B lymphocytes showed a normal proliferation index and number of dividing cells per cycle. PCA indicated that B-cell number, naive and memory B cells but not plasmablasts clustered with patients who were discharged, while plasma IgM level, C-reactive protein, D-dimer, and SOFA score with those who died. In patients with pneumonia, the derangement of the B-cell compartment could be one of the causes of the immunological failure to control SARS-Cov2, have a relevant influence on several pathways, organs and systems, and must be considered to develop vaccine strategies.

Expansion of plasmablasts and loss of memory B cells in peripheral blood from COVID-19 patients with pneumonia / De Biasi, S.; Lo Tartaro, D.; Meschiari, M.; Gibellini, L.; Bellinazzi, C.; Borella, R.; Fidanza, L.; Mattioli, M.; Paolini, A.; Gozzi, L.; Jaacoub, D.; Faltoni, M.; Volpi, S.; Milic, J.; Sita, M.; Sarti, M.; Pucillo, C.; Girardis, M.; Guaraldi, G.; Mussini, C.; Cossarizza, A.. - In: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY. - ISSN 0014-2980. - 50:9(2020), pp. 1283-1294. [10.1002/eji.202048838]

Expansion of plasmablasts and loss of memory B cells in peripheral blood from COVID-19 patients with pneumonia

De Biasi S.;Lo Tartaro D.;Meschiari M.;Gibellini L.;Bellinazzi C.;Borella R.;Fidanza L.;Mattioli M.;Paolini A.;Faltoni M.;Volpi S.;Sita M.;Girardis M.;Guaraldi G.;Mussini C.;Cossarizza A.
2020

Abstract

Studies on the interactions between SARS-CoV-2 and humoral immunity are fundamental to elaborate effective therapies including vaccines. We used polychromatic flow cytometry, coupled with unsupervised data analysis and principal component analysis (PCA), to interrogate B cells in untreated patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. COVID-19 patients displayed normal plasma levels of the main immunoglobulin classes, of antibodies against common antigens or against antigens present in common vaccines. However, we found a decreased number of total and naïve B cells, along with decreased percentages and numbers of memory switched and unswitched B cells. On the contrary, IgM+ and IgM− plasmablasts were significantly increased. In vitro cell activation revealed that B lymphocytes showed a normal proliferation index and number of dividing cells per cycle. PCA indicated that B-cell number, naive and memory B cells but not plasmablasts clustered with patients who were discharged, while plasma IgM level, C-reactive protein, D-dimer, and SOFA score with those who died. In patients with pneumonia, the derangement of the B-cell compartment could be one of the causes of the immunological failure to control SARS-Cov2, have a relevant influence on several pathways, organs and systems, and must be considered to develop vaccine strategies.
2020
13-ago-2020
50
9
1283
1294
Expansion of plasmablasts and loss of memory B cells in peripheral blood from COVID-19 patients with pneumonia / De Biasi, S.; Lo Tartaro, D.; Meschiari, M.; Gibellini, L.; Bellinazzi, C.; Borella, R.; Fidanza, L.; Mattioli, M.; Paolini, A.; Gozzi, L.; Jaacoub, D.; Faltoni, M.; Volpi, S.; Milic, J.; Sita, M.; Sarti, M.; Pucillo, C.; Girardis, M.; Guaraldi, G.; Mussini, C.; Cossarizza, A.. - In: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY. - ISSN 0014-2980. - 50:9(2020), pp. 1283-1294. [10.1002/eji.202048838]
De Biasi, S.; Lo Tartaro, D.; Meschiari, M.; Gibellini, L.; Bellinazzi, C.; Borella, R.; Fidanza, L.; Mattioli, M.; Paolini, A.; Gozzi, L.; Jaacoub, D...espandi
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11380/1211809
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