Cited by 341SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 ResearchT-cell and B-cell ImmunologyImmune responses and vaccinations

Maturation and persistence of the anti-SARS-CoV-2 memory B cell response

Open access
Sokal, Aurélien, Chappert, Pascal, Barba-Spaeth, Giovanna, Roeser, Anais, Fourati, Slim, Azzaoui, Imane, Vandenberghe, Alexis, Fernandez, Ignacio +18 more·2021·Cell

Published version of a preprint

Abstract

Memory B cells play a fundamental role in host defenses against viruses, but to date, their role has been relatively unsettled in the context of SARS-CoV-2. We report here a longitudinal single-cell and repertoire profiling of the B cell response up to 6 months in mild and severe COVID-19 patients. Distinct SARS-CoV-2 spike-specific activated B cell clones fueled an early antibody-secreting cell burst as well as a durable synchronous germinal center response. While highly mutated memory B cells, including pre-existing cross-reactive seasonal Betacoronavirus-specific clones, were recruited early in the response, neutralizing SARS-CoV-2 RBD-specific clones accumulated with time and largely contributed to the late, remarkably stable, memory B cell pool. Highlighting germinal center maturation, these cells displayed clear accumulation of somatic mutations in their variable region genes over time. Overall, these findings demonstrate that an antigen-driven activation persisted and matured up to 6 months after SARS-CoV-2 infection and may provide long-term protection.

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Authors
Sokal, A., Chappert, P., Barba-Spaeth, G., Roeser, A., Fourati, S., Azzaoui, I., Vandenberghe, A., Fernandez, I., Meola, A., Bouvier-Alias, M., Crickx, E., Beldi-Ferchiou, A., Hue, S., Languille, L., Michel, M., Baloul, S., Noizat-Pirenne, F., Luka, M., Mégret, J., Ménager, M., Pawlotsky, J.-M., Fillatreau, S., Rey, F. A., Weill, J.-C., Reynaud, C.-A., & Mahévas, M.
Affiliations
  • Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
  • Inserm (FR)
  • Université Paris-Est Créteil (FR)
Corresponding author
Mahévas, Matthieu
Venue
Cell
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2021-03
Volume
184
Issue
5
Pages
1201-1213.e14
ISSN
0092-8674 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W3128934913
Cited by
340
References
77
Citations by year
2026: 25 · 2025: 36 · 2024: 36 · 2023: 58 · 2022: 107 · 2021: 76 · 2013: 1
FWCI
21.93
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Cell (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • HAL (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Funders
  • Agence Nationale de la Recherche
  • Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › T-cell and B-cell Immunology
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › Immune responses and vaccinations
Keywords
SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 pandemic, memory B cells, germinal center, antibody-secreting cells, spike protein, receptor binding domain, neutralizing antibodies, somatic hypermutation, cross-reactive antibodies, long-term immunity, B cell clones
MeSH terms
COVID-19, Adult, B-Lymphocytes, Flow Cytometry, Humans, Immunologic Memory, Lymphocyte Activation, Middle Aged, Severity of Illness Index, Germinal Center, Single-Cell Analysis, Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus

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