T cell responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination are elevated in B cell deficiency and reduce risk of severe COVID-19

Authors: Reza Zonozi, Lucy C. Walters, Aaron Shulkin, Vivek Naranbhai, Pravarut Nithagon, Gabriel Sauvage, Clarety Kaeske, Katherine Cosgrove, Anusha Nathan, Rhoda Tano-Menka, Alton C. Gayton, Matthew A. Getz, Fernando Senjobe, Daniel Worrall, A. John Iafrate, Caroline Fromson, Sydney B. Montesi, Deepak A. Rao, Jeffrey A. Sparks, Zachary S. Wallace, Jocelyn R. Farmer, Bruce D. Walker, Richelle C. Charles, Karen Laliberte, John L. Niles, Gaurav D. Gaiha

Published: 2023-11-29

DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.adh4529

Source: Full article


Abstract

Individuals with primary and pharmacologic B cell deficiencies have high rates of severe disease and mortality from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), but the immune responses and clinical outcomes after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and vaccination have yet to be fully defined. Here, we evaluate the cellular immune responses after both SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination in patients receiving the anti-CD20 therapy rituximab (RTX) and those with low B cell counts due to common variable immune deficiency (CVID) disease. Assessment of effector and memory CD4