Researchers discover that COVID-19 mRNA vaccines do not generate long-lasting plasma cells in the bone marrow, shedding light on why antibody immunity wanes quickly, and highlighting the urgent need for improved vaccine strategies. Study: SARS-CoV-2-specific plasma cells are not durably established in the bone marrow long-lived compartment after mRNA vaccination . Image Credit: sciencepics / Shutterstock In a recent study published in the journal Nature Medicine , researchers examined whether individuals who had severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccination developed long-lasting immune responses, specifically for the spike antigen in the long-lived plasma cell (LLPC) fraction (CD19−CD38hiCD138+) of the human bone marrow (BM).
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has resulted in enormous worldwide morbidity and mortality. While the wild-type SARS-CoV-2 initial two-dose vaccination series and booster doses have shown effectiveness against severe illness, the durability of immunity—particularly in terms of preventing infection or transmission—remains under investigation. SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations provide durable T-cell -mediated immunity; however, the rapid decline in neutralizing antibodies three to six months post-vaccination might lead to breakthrough infections or reinfections.
Investigating factors that drive the waning of anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunity could aid in developing agents that could extend the longev.