Poor immunogenicity upon SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccinations in autoimmune SLE patients is associated with pronounced EF-mediated responses and anti-BAFF/Belimumab treatment

Novel mRNA vaccines have resulted in a reduced number of SARS-CoV-2 infections and hospitalizations. Yet, there is a paucity of studies regarding their effectiveness on immunocompromised autoimmune subjects. In this study, we enrolled subjects naïve to SARS-CoV-2 infections from two cohorts of healthy donors (HD, n=56) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE, n=69). Serological assessments of their circulating antibodies revealed a significant reduction of potency and breadth of neutralization in the SLE group, only partially rescued by a 3(rd) booster dose. Immunological memory responses in the SLE cohort were characterized by a reduced magnitude of spike-reactive B and T cell responses that were strongly associated with poor seroconversion. Vaccinated SLE subjects were defined by a distinct expansion and persistence of a DN2 spike-reactive memory B cell pool and a contraction of spike-specific memory cTfh cells, contrasting with the sustained germinal center (GC)-driven activity mediated by mRNA vaccination in the healthy population. Among the SLE-associated factors that dampened the vaccine responses, treatment with the monoclonal antibody anti-BAFF/Belimumab (a lupus FDA-approved B cell targeting agent) profoundly affected the vaccine responsiveness by restricting the de novo B cell responses and promoting stronger extra-follicular (EF)-mediated responses that were associated with poor immunogenicity and impaired immunological memory. In summary, this study interrogates antigen-specific responses and characterized the immune cell landscape associated with mRNA vaccination in SLE. The identification of factors associated with reduced vaccine efficacy illustrates the impact of SLE B cell biology on mRNA vaccine responses and provides guidance for the management of boosters and recall vaccinations in SLE patients according to their disease endotype and modality of treatment.