STAT5-c-Myc-axis regulates B cell metabolism in vaccinated individuals and COVID-19 recovered patients

SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination both trigger immune responses. The former leads to naturally acquired immunity, while the latter induces active immunity through artificial means. However, the distinct immune effects of vaccination and infection, as well as their underlying mechanisms, require further clarification. In this study, we compared the peripheral B cell differentiation, serological differences and the expression level of BCR signaling molecules between the vaccinated and recovered group. The vaccinated group exhibited reduced RBD-specific B cell differentiation and lower CD86 signal intensity on memory B cells, but enhanced BCR signaling in B cells. Regarding metabolic signaling, the vaccinated group had elevated expression levels of pS6, c-Myc, pmTOR, and pSTAT5, suggesting that the STAT5-c-Myc axis plays a role in regulating B cell metabolism. Additionally, proteome microarray analysis revealed that the serum of the vaccinated group contained higher levels of IgG antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 N-Nter protein and IgA antibodies specific to the SARS-CoV-2 S1 protein. In summary, these findings indicate that the vaccinated group develops a more robust coronavirus-specific immune response, with enhanced BCR signaling and metabolic activity compared to the recovered group. These insights might contribute to the optimization of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine design.