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Deutscher Rheumatologiekongress 2023

51. Kongress der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Rheumatologie (DGRh)
37. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Orthopädische Rheumatologie (DGORh)
33. Jahrestagung der Gesellschaft für Kinder- und Jugendrheumatologie (GKJR)

30.08. - 02.09.2023, Leipzig

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Analyses of SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza specific B- and plasma cells show different phenotypes in bone marrow and peripheral blood

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  • Luca Kahlert - Medical Department 1, Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany
  • Babak Moradi - Clinic of Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany
  • Maria Sokolova - Medical Department 1, Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany
  • Ulf Martin Geisen - Medical Department 1, Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany
  • Bimba Franziska Hoyer - Medical Department 1, Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany
  • Elena Hildebrand - Medical Department 1, Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany
  • Dennis Kristopher Berner - Medical Department 1, Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany
  • Sebastian Lippross - Clinic of Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany
  • Jan Henrik Schirmer - Medical Department 1, Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany
  • Baraa Khamees - Clinic of Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany
  • Eduard Peters - Clinic of Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany
  • Ove Schröder - Clinic of Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany
  • Maciej Simon - Clinic of Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery, University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein Campus Kiel, Kiel, Germany

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Rheumatologie. Deutsche Gesellschaft für Orthopädische Rheumatologie. Gesellschaft für Kinder- und Jugendrheumatologie. Deutscher Rheumatologiekongress 2023, 51. Kongress der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Rheumatologie (DGRh), 37. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Orthopädische Rheumatologie (DGORh), 33. Jahrestagung der Gesellschaft für Kinder- und Jugendrheumatologie (GKJR). Leipzig, 30.08.-02.09.2023. Düsseldorf: German Medical Science GMS Publishing House; 2023. DocET.07

doi: 10.3205/23dgrh027, urn:nbn:de:0183-23dgrh0276

Published: August 30, 2023

© 2023 Kahlert et al.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License. See license information at http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

Outline

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Introduction: The use of biologics in treating chronic inflammatory diseases has proven to enhance patients’ quality of life while significantly decelerating the progression of their conditions. The downside can be an increased susceptibility to infections. However, the impact of this therapy on protective and autoimmune adaptive immune responses remains not fully understood. In this study we aimed to characterize B and (long-lived (LLPC)) plasma cell populations in blood and bone marrow.

Methods: We analysed peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with rheumatoid diseases receiving biologics, as well as controls, both before and 7 days after vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 or Influenza virus by multicolour flow cytometry. Additionally, antigen-specific antibody-secreting cells (ASC) were detected by FluoroSpot. In addition, bone marrow mononuclear (BMMCs) cells and PBMCs from patients undergoing hip replacement surgery were analyzed to compare the presence of SARS-CoV-2 S1- and influenza HA-specific ASCs. Finally, we quantified IgA and IgG serum concentrations against S1 and HA, along with the neutralization capacity against S1, using the ELISA assay. The study was approved by the local ethics committee and all patients signed informed consent.

Results: Following vaccination, ASCs were detectable in the blood of both, CID patients receiving biologics and controls, showing differences between the maturation phenotypes of HA-specific compared to S1-specific cells. These data correlate with the serum IgA and IgG concentrations against the influenza HA protein and S1 protein, as well as the concentration of neutralizing antibodies against the S1 protein. Flow cytometry of BMMCs revealed a heterogeneous plasma cell population, showing both S1- and HA-specific ASCs, with initial analyses already revealing differences between their phenotypes. These findings are reflected in the respective serum concentrations of IgA and IgG antibodies.

Conclusion: This study shows differences in the phenotypes of vaccination specific B- and plasma cells in blood and bone marrow of healthy individuals and patients with rheumatoid diseases receiving different biologics. Understanding these different phenotypes can help to estimate the effect of certain biologicals on protective immune responses and improve vaccination regimes and therapy. However, further research is needed to improve understanding of both LLPC and the immune response under biologics.

Disclosure: The authors state no conflicts of interest in the context of this study.