RESUMO
Vaccine-mediated immunity often relies on the generation of protective antibodies and memory B cells, which commonly stem from germinal center (GC) reactions. An in-depth comparison of the GC responses elicited by SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines in healthy and immunocompromised individuals has not yet been performed due to the challenge of directly probing human lymph nodes. Herein, through a fine-needle aspiration-based approach, we profiled the immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines in lymph nodes of healthy individuals and kidney transplant recipients (KTXs). We found that, unlike healthy subjects, KTXs presented deeply blunted SARS-CoV-2-specific GC B cell responses coupled with severely hindered T follicular helper cell, SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain-specific memory B cell, and neutralizing antibody responses. KTXs also displayed reduced SARS-CoV-2-specific CD4 and CD8 T cell frequencies. Broadly, these data indicate impaired GC-derived immunity in immunocompromised individuals and suggest a GC origin for certain humoral and memory B cell responses following mRNA vaccination.
RESUMO
Adjuvants are critical for improving the quality and magnitude of adaptive immune responses to vaccination. Lipid nanoparticle (LNP)-encapsulated nucleoside-modified mRNA vaccines have shown great efficacy against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), but the mechanism of action of this vaccine platform is not well-characterized. Using influenza virus and SARS-CoV-2 mRNA and protein subunit vaccines, we demonstrated that our LNP formulation has intrinsic adjuvant activity that promotes induction of strong T follicular helper cell, germinal center B cell, long-lived plasma cell, and memory B cell responses that are associated with durable and protective antibodies in mice. Comparative experiments demonstrated that this LNP formulation outperformed a widely used MF59-like adjuvant, AddaVax. The adjuvant activity of the LNP relies on the ionizable lipid component and on IL-6 cytokine induction but not on MyD88- or MAVS-dependent sensing of LNPs. Our study identified LNPs as a versatile adjuvant that enhances the efficacy of traditional and next-generation vaccine platforms.
Assuntos
Linfócitos B/imunologia , Vacinas contra COVID-19/imunologia , COVID-19/imunologia , Centro Germinativo/imunologia , SARS-CoV-2/fisiologia , Linfócitos T Auxiliares-Indutores/imunologia , Vacinas de mRNA/imunologia , Proteínas Adaptadoras de Transdução de Sinal/genética , Proteínas Adaptadoras de Transdução de Sinal/metabolismo , Adjuvantes Imunológicos , Animais , Células HEK293 , Humanos , Imunidade Humoral , Interleucina-6/genética , Interleucina-6/metabolismo , Lipossomos/administração & dosagem , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos BALB C , Nanopartículas/administração & dosagem , Subunidades Proteicas/genética , Vacinas de mRNA/genéticaRESUMO
The deployment of effective vaccines against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is critical to eradicate the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Many licensed vaccines confer protection by inducing long-lived plasma cells (LLPCs) and memory B cells (MBCs), cell types canonically generated during germinal center (GC) reactions. Here, we directly compared two vaccine platforms-mRNA vaccines and a recombinant protein formulated with an MF59-like adjuvant-looking for their abilities to quantitatively and qualitatively shape SARS-CoV-2-specific primary GC responses over time. We demonstrated that a single immunization with SARS-CoV-2 mRNA, but not with the recombinant protein vaccine, elicited potent SARS-CoV-2-specific GC B and T follicular helper (Tfh) cell responses as well as LLPCs and MBCs. Importantly, GC responses strongly correlated with neutralizing antibody production. mRNA vaccines more efficiently induced key regulators of the Tfh cell program and influenced the functional properties of Tfh cells. Overall, this study identifies SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines as strong candidates for promoting robust GC-derived immune responses.
Assuntos
Anticorpos Neutralizantes/metabolismo , Linfócitos B/imunologia , Vacinas contra COVID-19/imunologia , COVID-19/imunologia , Centro Germinativo/imunologia , SARS-CoV-2/fisiologia , Linfócitos T Auxiliares-Indutores/imunologia , Vacinas Sintéticas/imunologia , Antígenos Virais/genética , Antígenos Virais/imunologia , Células Cultivadas , Epitopos , Humanos , Ativação Linfocitária , Polissorbatos , RNA Viral/imunologia , Proteínas Recombinantes/genética , Proteínas Recombinantes/imunologia , Esqualeno , Vacinação , Vacinas de mRNARESUMO
SARS-CoV-2 infection has emerged as a serious global pandemic. Because of the high transmissibility of the virus and the high rate of morbidity and mortality associated with COVID-19, developing effective and safe vaccines is a top research priority. Here, we provide a detailed evaluation of the immunogenicity of lipid nanoparticle-encapsulated, nucleoside-modified mRNA (mRNA-LNP) vaccines encoding the full-length SARS-CoV-2 spike protein or the spike receptor binding domain in mice. We demonstrate that a single dose of these vaccines induces strong type 1 CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses, as well as long-lived plasma and memory B cell responses. Additionally, we detect robust and sustained neutralizing antibody responses and the antibodies elicited by nucleoside-modified mRNA vaccines do not show antibody-dependent enhancement of infection in vitro. Our findings suggest that the nucleoside-modified mRNA-LNP vaccine platform can induce robust immune responses and is a promising candidate to combat COVID-19.
Assuntos
Anticorpos Neutralizantes/biossíntese , Anticorpos Antivirais/biossíntese , Betacoronavirus/efeitos dos fármacos , Infecções por Coronavirus/prevenção & controle , Pandemias/prevenção & controle , Pneumonia Viral/prevenção & controle , RNA Mensageiro/imunologia , RNA Viral/imunologia , Vacinas Virais/administração & dosagem , Animais , Linfócitos B/efeitos dos fármacos , Linfócitos B/imunologia , Linfócitos B/virologia , Betacoronavirus/imunologia , Betacoronavirus/patogenicidade , Linfócitos T CD4-Positivos/efeitos dos fármacos , Linfócitos T CD4-Positivos/imunologia , Linfócitos T CD4-Positivos/virologia , Linfócitos T CD8-Positivos/efeitos dos fármacos , Linfócitos T CD8-Positivos/imunologia , Linfócitos T CD8-Positivos/virologia , COVID-19 , Vacinas contra COVID-19 , Infecções por Coronavirus/genética , Infecções por Coronavirus/imunologia , Infecções por Coronavirus/patologia , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Furina/genética , Furina/imunologia , Humanos , Imunidade Humoral/efeitos dos fármacos , Imunização/métodos , Imunogenicidade da Vacina , Memória Imunológica/efeitos dos fármacos , Ativação Linfocitária/efeitos dos fármacos , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos BALB C , Nanopartículas/administração & dosagem , Nanopartículas/química , Pneumonia Viral/imunologia , Pneumonia Viral/patologia , RNA Mensageiro/genética , RNA Viral/genética , SARS-CoV-2 , Glicoproteína da Espícula de Coronavírus/genética , Glicoproteína da Espícula de Coronavírus/imunologia , Vacinas Sintéticas , Vacinas Virais/biossíntese , Vacinas Virais/genéticaRESUMO
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) mRNA vaccines drive the generation of affinity-matured B cell responses through germinal center (GC) reactions in vaccine draining lymph nodes. Herein, we describe a procedure for the acquisition of human lymph node samples via an ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration-based approach. Additionally, we outline a suggested approach for the analysis of CD4 T helper cell subsets as well as antigen-specific GC B cells, memory B cells, and plasmablasts by high-parameter spectral flow cytometry. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Lederer et al. (2022).1.
Assuntos
COVID-19 , SARS-CoV-2 , Humanos , SARS-CoV-2/genética , Vacinas contra COVID-19 , Citometria de Fluxo , Biópsia por Agulha Fina/métodos , COVID-19/prevenção & controle , COVID-19/patologia , Centro Germinativo , VacinaçãoRESUMO
CD4+ follicular regulatory T (Tfr) cells control B cell responses through the modulation of follicular helper T (Tfh) cells and germinal center development while suppressing autoreactivity; however, their role in the regulation of productive germinal center B cell responses and humoral memory is incompletely defined. We show that Tfr cells promote antigen-specific germinal center B cell responses upon influenza virus infection. Following viral challenge, we found that Tfr cells are necessary for robust generation of virus-specific, long-lived plasma cells, antibody production against both hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA), the two major influenza virus glycoproteins, and appropriate regulation of the BCR repertoire. To further investigate the functional relevance of Tfr cells during viral challenge, we used a sequential immunization model with repeated exposure of antigenically partially conserved strains of influenza viruses, revealing that Tfr cells promote recall antibody responses against the conserved HA stalk region. Thus, Tfr cells promote antigen-specific B cell responses and are essential for the development of long-term humoral memory.
Assuntos
Linfócitos B/imunologia , Betainfluenzavirus/imunologia , Antígenos CD4/metabolismo , Imunidade , Linfócitos T Reguladores/imunologia , Animais , Formação de Anticorpos/imunologia , Antígenos/metabolismo , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Epitopos/imunologia , Fatores de Transcrição Forkhead/metabolismo , Centro Germinativo/imunologia , Humanos , Memória Imunológica , Influenza Humana/imunologia , Influenza Humana/virologia , Integrases/metabolismo , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Infecções por Orthomyxoviridae/imunologia , Infecções por Orthomyxoviridae/virologia , Receptores de Antígenos de Linfócitos B/metabolismo , Especificidade da Espécie , VacinaçãoRESUMO
Vaccine-mediated immunity often relies on the generation of protective antibodies and memory B cells, which commonly stem from germinal center (GC) reactions. An in-depth comparison of the GC responses elicited by SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines in healthy and immunocompromised individuals has not yet been performed due to the challenge of directly probing human lymph nodes. In this study, through a fine-needle-aspiration-based approach, we profiled the immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines in lymph nodes of healthy individuals and kidney transplant (KTX) recipients. We found that, unlike healthy subjects, KTX recipients presented deeply blunted SARS-CoV-2-specific GC B cell responses coupled with severely hindered T follicular helper cells, SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding-domain-specific memory B cells and neutralizing antibodies. KTX recipients also displayed reduced SARS-CoV-2-specific CD4 and CD8 T cell frequencies. Broadly, these data indicate impaired GC-derived immunity in immunocompromised individuals, and suggest a GC-origin for certain humoral and memory B cell responses following mRNA vaccination.