Journal of Inflammation Research (Aug 2022)
Differences in B-Cell Immunophenotypes and Neutralizing Antibodies Against SARS-CoV-2 After Administration of BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) Vaccine in Individuals with and without Prior COVID-19 - A Prospective Cohort Study
Abstract
José Javier Morales-Núñez,1 Mariel García-Chagollán,1 José Francisco Muñoz-Valle,1 Saúl Alberto Díaz-Pérez,1 Paola Carolina Torres-Hernández,2 Saraí Citlalic Rodríguez-Reyes,3 Guillermo Santoscoy-Ascencio,4 José Julio Sierra García de Quevedo,4 Jorge Hernández-Bello1 1Institute of Research in Biomedical Sciences, University Center of Health Sciences (CUCS), University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico; 2Immunology Laboratory, University Center of Health Sciences (CUCS), University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico; 3Institute of Translational Nutrigenetics and Nutrigenomics, University Center of Health Sciences (CUCS), University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico; 4Unidad de Patología Clinica (UPC), Guadalajara, Jalisco, MexicoCorrespondence: Jorge Hernández-Bello,s Institute of Research in Biomedical Sciences, University Center of Health Sciences (CUCS), University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco, 44340, Mexico, Tel +52 3334509355, Email [email protected]: Understanding the humoral immune response dynamics carried out by B cells in COVID-19 vaccination is little explored; therefore, we analyze the changes induced in the different cellular subpopulations of B cells after vaccination with BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech).Methods: This prospective cohort study evaluated thirty-nine immunized health workers (22 with prior COVID-19 and 17 without prior COVID-19) and ten subjects not vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 (control group). B cell subpopulations (transitional, mature, naïve, memory, plasmablasts, early plasmablast, and double-negative B cells) and neutralizing antibody levels were analyzed and quantified by flow cytometry and ELISA, respectively.Results: The dynamics of the B cells subpopulations after vaccination showed the following pattern: the percentage of transitional B cells was higher in the prior COVID-19 group (p < 0.05), whereas virgin B cells were more prevalent in the group without prior COVID-19 (p < 0.05), mature B cells predominated in both vaccinated groups (p < 0.01), and memory B cells, plasmablasts, early plasmablasts, and double-negative B cells were higher in the not vaccinated group (p < 0.05).Conclusion: BNT162b2 vaccine induces changes in B cell subpopulations, especially generating plasma cells and producing neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. However, the previous infection with SARS-CoV-2 does not significantly alter the dynamics of these subpopulations but induces more rapid and optimal antibody production.Keywords: B cell, BNT162b2, SARS-CoV-2, immunophenotype, vaccine
