SARS-CoV-2 infection generates tissue-localized immunological memory in humans
Maya M.L. Poon, Ksenia Rybkina, Yu Kato, Masaru Kubota, Rei Matsumoto, Nathaniel I. Bloom, Zeli Zhang, Kathryn M. Hastie, Alba Grifoni, Daniela Weiskopf, Steven B. Wells, Basak B. Ural, Nora Lam, Peter A. Szabo, Pranay Dogra, Yoon Seung Lee, Joshua I. Gray, Marissa C. Bradley, Maigan Brusko, Todd M. Brusko, Erica Ollmann Saphire, Thomas J. Connors, Alessandro Sette, Shane Crotty, Donna L. Färber
Abstract
T, and B cell memory generated in response to infection is present in the bone marrow, spleen, lung, and multiple lymph nodes (LNs) for up to 6 months after infection. Lungs and lung-associated LNs were the most prevalent sites for SARS-CoV-2–specific memory T and B cells with significant correlations between circulating and tissue-resident memory T and B cells in all sites. We further identified SARS-CoV-2–specific germinal centers in the lung-associated LNs up to 6 months after infection. SARS-CoV-2–specific follicular helper T cells were also abundant in lung-associated LNs and lungs. Together, the results indicate local tissue coordination of cellular and humoral immune memory against SARS-CoV-2 for site-specific protection against future infectious challenges.