Dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 immunity after vaccination and breakthrough infection in rituximab-treated rheumatoid arthritis patients: a prospective cohort study

Background

SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients treated with B cell-depleting drugs induced limited seroconversion but robust cellular response. We aimed to document specific T and B cell immunity in response to vaccine booster doses and breakthrough infection (BTI).

Methods

We included 76 RA patients treated with rituximab who received up to four SARS-CoV-2 vaccine doses or three doses plus BTI, in addition to vaccinated healthy donors (HD) and control patients treated with tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi). We quantified anti-SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain (RBD) Spike IgG, anti-nucleocapsid (NC) IgG, 92 circulating inflammatory proteins, Spike-binding B cells, and Spike-specific T cells along with comprehensive high-dimensional phenotyping and functional assays.

Findings

The time since the last rituximab infusion, persistent inflammation, and age were associated with the anti-SARS-CoV-2 RBD IgG seroconversion. The vaccine-elicited serological response was accompanied by an incomplete induction of peripheral Spike-specific memory B cells but occurred independently of T cell responses. Vaccine- and BTI-elicited cellular immunity was similar between RA and HD ex vivo in terms of frequency or phenotype of Spike-specific cytotoxic T cells and in vitro in terms of the functionality and differentiation profile of Spike-specific T cells.

Interpretation

SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in RA can induce persistent effector T-cell responses that are reactivated by BTI. Paused rituximab medication allowed serological responses after a booster dose (D4), especially in RA with lower inflammation, enabling efficient humoral and cellular immunity after BTI, and contributed overall to the development of potential durable immunity.