Communications Biology (May 2024)

B cell heterogeneity in human tuberculosis highlights compartment-specific phenotype and functional roles

  • Robert Krause,
  • Paul Ogongo,
  • Liku Tezera,
  • Mohammed Ahmed,
  • Ian Mbano,
  • Mark Chambers,
  • Abigail Ngoepe,
  • Magalli Magnoumba,
  • Daniel Muema,
  • Farina Karim,
  • Khadija Khan,
  • Kapongo Lumamba,
  • Kievershen Nargan,
  • Rajhmun Madansein,
  • Adrie Steyn,
  • Alex K. Shalek,
  • Paul Elkington,
  • Al Leslie

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-024-06282-7
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 7, no. 1
pp. 1 – 15

Abstract

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Abstract B cells are important in tuberculosis (TB) immunity, but their role in the human lung is understudied. Here, we characterize B cells from lung tissue and matched blood of patients with TB and found they are decreased in the blood and increased in the lungs, consistent with recruitment to infected tissue, where they are located in granuloma associated lymphoid tissue. Flow cytometry and transcriptomics identify multiple B cell populations in the lung, including those associated with tissue resident memory, germinal centers, antibody secretion, proinflammatory atypical B cells, and regulatory B cells, some of which are expanded in TB disease. Additionally, TB lungs contain high levels of Mtb-reactive antibodies, specifically IgM, which promotes Mtb phagocytosis. Overall, these data reveal the presence of functionally diverse B cell subsets in the lungs of patients with TB and suggest several potential localized roles that may represent a target for interventions to promote immunity or mitigate immunopathology.