Delayed generation of functional virus-specific circulating T follicular helper cells correlates with severe COVID-19.
Nat Commun
; 14(1): 2164, 2023 04 15.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-37061513
ABSTRACT
Effective humoral immune responses require well-orchestrated B and T follicular helper (Tfh) cell interactions. Whether these interactions are impaired and associated with COVID-19 disease severity is unclear. Here, longitudinal blood samples across COVID-19 disease severity are analysed. We find that during acute infection SARS-CoV-2-specific circulating Tfh (cTfh) cells expand with disease severity. SARS-CoV-2-specific cTfh cell frequencies correlate with plasmablast frequencies and SARS-CoV-2 antibody titers, avidity and neutralization. Furthermore, cTfh cells but not other memory CD4 T cells, from severe patients better induce plasmablast differentiation and antibody production compared to cTfh cells from mild patients. However, virus-specific cTfh cell development is delayed in patients that display or later develop severe disease compared to those with mild disease, which correlates with delayed induction of high-avidity neutralizing antibodies. Our study suggests that impaired generation of functional virus-specific cTfh cells delays high-quality antibody production at an early stage, potentially enabling progression to severe disease.
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Linfócitos T Auxiliares-Indutores
/
COVID-19
Limite:
Humans
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2023
Tipo de documento:
Article