Alterations in B Cell and Follicular T-Helper Cell Subsets in Patients with Acute COVID-19 and COVID-19 Convalescents
I. V. Kudryavtsev, N. A. Аrsentieva, O. K. Batsunov, Zoia R. Korobova, I. V. Khamitova, Dmitrii V. Isakov, R. N. Kuznetsova, Artem Rubinstein, Oksana V. Stanevich, А. А. Лебедева, Evgeny A. Vorobyov, Snejana V. Vorobyova, Alexander N. Kulikov, Maria A. Sharapova, Dmitrii E. Pevtcov, Арег А. Тотолян
Abstract
Background. Humoral immunity requires interaction between B cell and T follicular helper cells (Tfh) to produce effective immune response, but the data regarding a role of B cells and Tfh in SARS-CoV-2 defense are still sparse. Methods. Blood samples from patients with acute COVID-19 (n = 64), convalescents patients who had specific IgG to SARS-CoV-2 N-protein (n = 55), and healthy donors with no detectable antibodies to any SARS-CoV-2 proteins (HC, n = 44) were analyses by multicolor flow cytometry. Results. Patients with acute COVID-19 showed decreased levels of memory B cells subsets and increased proportion plasma cell precursors compared to HC and COVID-19 convalescent patients, whereas for the latter the elevated numbers of virgin naïve, Bm2′ and “Bm3+Bm4” was found if compared with HC. During acute COVID-19 CXCR3+CCR6− Tfh1-like cells were decreased and the levels of CXCR3−CCR6+ Tfh17-like were increased then in HC and convalescent patients. Finally, COVID-19 convalescent patients had increased levels of Tfh2-, Tfh17- and DP Tfh-like cells while comparing their amount with HC. Conclusions. Our data indicate that COVID-19 can impact the humoral immunity in the long-term.