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

De Biasi, Sara; Lo Tartaro, Domenico; Meschiari, Marianna; Gibellini, Lara; Bellinazzi, Caterina; Borella, Rebecca; Fidanza, Lucia; Mattioli, Marco; Paolini, Annamaria; Gozzi, Licia; Jaacoub, Dina; Faltoni, Matteo; Volpi, Sara; Milić, Jovana; Sita, Marco; Sarti, Mario; Pucillo, Carlo; Girardis, Massimo; Guaraldi, Giovanni; Mussini, Cristina; Cossarizza, Andrea

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.