The Effect of SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination on B-Cell Phenotype in Systemic Sclerosis Patients

Chiara Pellicano; Amalia Colalillo; Valerio Basile; Mariapaola Marino; Umberto Basile; Francesca La Gualana; Ivano Mezzaroma; Marcella Visentini; Edoardo Rosato

doi:10.3390/jpm12091420

The Effect of SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination on B-Cell Phenotype in Systemic Sclerosis Patients

J Pers Med. 2022 Aug 31;12(9):1420. doi: 10.3390/jpm12091420.

Authors

Chiara Pellicano¹, Amalia Colalillo¹, Valerio Basile², Mariapaola Marino³, Umberto Basile⁴, Francesca La Gualana¹, Ivano Mezzaroma¹, Marcella Visentini¹, Edoardo Rosato¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy.
² Clinical Pathology Unit and Cancer Biobank, Department of Research and Advanced Technologies, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144 Rome, Italy.
³ Department of Translational Medicine and Surgery, Section of General Pathology, "A. Gemelli" IRCCS, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy.
⁴ Department of Laboratory and Infectious Disease Sciences, "A. Gemelli" IRCCS, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy.

Abstract

Objective: to assess the influence of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine on B-cell phenotypes in systemic sclerosis (SSc).

Methods: peripheral blood B-cell subpopulations were evaluated before (t1) and 3 months (t3) after the second dose of vaccine in 28 SSc patients. Peripheral blood B-cell subpopulations were evaluated in 21 healthy controls (HCs) only at t1. Anti-spike IgG levels were evaluated at t3 in both cohorts.

Results: SSc patients presented higher naive, double-negative, and CD21^low B cells compared to HCs. IgM-memory and switched-memory B cells were lower in SSc patients than HCs. No differences in anti-spike IgG levels after vaccination were observed between SSc patients and HCs. Anti-spike IgG levels after vaccination were lower in SSc patients with increased CD21^low B cells at baseline compared to SSc patients with normal CD21^low B cells. A positive correlation was found between IgG levels and naive B cells. A negative linear correlation was shown between IgG levels and IgM-memory, switched-memory, double-negative, and CD21^low B cells.

Conclusions: SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine response is normal in SSc patients not undergoing immunosuppressive therapy. The normal number of naive B cells is a positive marker of antibody response. The increased percentage of CD21^low B cells represents a negative marker of antibody response.

Keywords: B cells; COVID-19; humoral response; mRNA vaccine; systemic sclerosis.

Grants and funding

No specific funding was received from any bodies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors to carry out the work described in this article.