Antibody durability is influenced by interleukin-2 production by undifferentiated memory T helper cells and extensive B cell clonal expansion

SARS-CoV-2-neutralizing antibody titers serve as immune correlates of protection against COVID-19; however, the durability varies among vaccinees. Here, we demonstrate that the durability of vaccine-boosted antibody responses is closely correlated with the pre-booster capacity of spike-reactive CD4 + T cells to produce interleukin (IL)-2 and T helper type 2 (Th2) cytokines. IL-2 production by CD4 + T cells was also associated with extensive B cell clonal expansion, which preceded the durable antibody responses. High-dimensional cytometric and transcriptomic analyses revealed that IL-2-producing CD4 + T cells exhibit low expression of markers characteristic of circulating T follicular helper cells or peripheral helper T cells. Nonetheless, IL-2-producing T cells highly express key helper molecules such as CD40L, ICOS, and IL-21, along with the transcription factor BACH2, which is known to prevent T cell differentiation and senescence. Thus, our study indicates a potential role of undifferentiated memory T helper cells in orchestrating the durability of antibody responses.