Maintenance and functional regulation of immune memory to COVID-19 vaccines in tissues.

Publication date: Dec 10, 2024

Memory T and B cells in tissues are essential for protective immunity. Here, we performed a comprehensive analysis of the tissue distribution, phenotype, durability, and transcriptional profile of COVID-19 mRNA vaccine-induced immune memory across blood, lymphoid organs, and lungs obtained from 63 vaccinated organ donors aged 23-86, some of whom experienced SARS-CoV-2 infection. Spike (S)-reactive memory T cells were detected in lymphoid organs and lungs and variably expressed tissue-resident markers based on infection history, and S-reactive B cells comprised class-switched memory cells resident in lymphoid organs. Compared with blood, S-reactive tissue memory T cells persisted for longer times post-vaccination and were more prevalent with age. S-reactive T cells displayed site-specific subset compositions and functions: regulatory cell profiles were enriched in tissues, while effector and cytolytic profiles were more abundant in circulation. Our findings reveal functional compartmentalization of vaccine-induced T cell memory where surveilling effectors and in situ regulatory responses confer protection with minimal tissue damage.

Concepts Keywords
Abundant Adult
Covid Aged
Lymphoid Aged, 80 and over
Organ B-Lymphocytes
Vaccinated COVID-19
COVID-19
COVID-19 Vaccines
COVID-19 Vaccines
Female
human immunology
Humans
Immunologic Memory
immunologic memory
Lung
lung immunity
lymphoid organs
Lymphoid Tissue
Male
memory B cells
Memory T Cells
Middle Aged
mRNA vaccines
regulatory T cells
SARS-CoV-2
SARS-CoV-2
Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus
Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus
spike protein, SARS-CoV-2
Vaccination
Young Adult

Semantics

Type Source Name
disease MESH COVID-19
disease IDO blood
pathway REACTOME SARS-CoV-2 Infection
disease MESH infection
disease IDO history
disease IDO site
disease IDO cell

Original Article

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