Ectopic germinal centers in the nasal turbinates contribute to B cell immunity to intranasal viral infection and vaccination.

Summary

Upper airway-targeted influenza infection and immunization elicited robust germinal centers within nasal turbinates, outside classical NALT. These NT germinal centers generated tissue-resident B cells and boosted local antibodies, and steady-state NT GCs were found in mice and healthy humans, positioning the turbinate as a key site for mucosal vaccine design.

Key Findings

• Optimized URT-targeted IAV inoculation in mice induced robust germinal center B-cell responses in nasal turbinates outside classical NALT.
• Nasal turbinate germinal centers generated tissue-resident B cells and enhanced local antibody production.
• URT-focused immunization induced significant NT germinal center formation; steady-state NT GCs were detected in mice and healthy humans.

Clinical Implications

Mucosal vaccines may be optimized by targeting or enhancing nasal turbinate germinal center responses to improve local protection against respiratory viruses.

Limitations

• Durability and protective efficacy of NT GC-driven responses against diverse pathogens were not fully quantified.
• Translational vaccine formulations and dosing regimens remain to be defined.

Future Directions

Design intranasal vaccines that specifically enhance nasal turbinate GC responses, and test protection breadth and durability in preclinical and clinical studies.