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

2020/07/24 by Sara De Biasi, Domenico Lo Tartaro, Marianna Meschiari +18 · 126 citations
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Medicine · #Antibody #Antigen #Antigen-presenting cell #B cell #Biology #COVID-19 Clinical Research Studies #Diabetes and associated disorders #Flow cytometry #Humoral immunity #Immune system #Immunoglobulin G #Immunoglobulin M #Immunology #Internal medicine #Medicine #Memory B cell #Naive B cell #Pneumonia #SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research #T cell

paper · pdf · doi:10.1002/eji.202048838

published in European Journal of Immunology 50(9), 1283-1294 (Wiley)

openalex publication_date 2020/07/24 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28

Abstract

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.

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