Cutting Edge: Long-Term B Cell Memory in Humans after Smallpox Vaccination (original) (raw)

2003, The Journal of Immunology

Memory B cells are a central component of humoral immunity, and yet little is known about their longevity in humans. Immune memory after smallpox vaccination (DryVax) is a valuable benchmark for understanding the longevity of B cell memory in the absence of re-exposure to Ag. In this study, we demonstrate that smallpox vaccinespecific memory B cells last for >50 years in immunized individuals. Virus-specific memory B cells initially declined postimmunization, but then reached a plateau ϳ10-fold lower than peak and were stably maintained for >50 years after vaccination at a frequency of ϳ0.1% of total circulating IgG ؉ B cells. These persisting memory B cells were functional and able to mount a robust anamnestic Ab response upon revaccination. Additionally, virus-specific CD4 ؉ T cells were detected decades after vaccination. These data show that immunological memory to DryVax vaccine is long-lived and may contribute to protection against smallpox.