French Scientists Discover That Plasmablasts Hold Key to Life and Death in COVID-19
Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Oct 14, 2025 2 hours, 33 minutes ago
Medical News: Scientists uncover immune cells that can both protect and destroy
Researchers from the University of Lille, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, and the University of La Réunion in France have discovered that certain immune cells called plasmablasts can play a double role during COVID-19 infection — either helping the body fight the virus or worsening the inflammation that leads to severe disease. This
Medical News report explains their groundbreaking findings and why it may open new doors for future treatment.
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French Scientists Discover That Plasmablasts Hold Key to Life and Death in COVID-19
What are plasmablasts
Plasmablasts are short-lived, antibody-producing cells that emerge from B cells when the immune system encounters a new infection. Normally, they appear briefly in the bloodstream to help fight off viruses or bacteria by producing protective antibodies. However, when they expand excessively or remain active for too long, they can trigger harmful inflammation and disrupt the body’s delicate immune balance.
A closer look at COVID-19 patients
The French team followed 50 hospitalized COVID-19 patients and later analyzed data from a second group of 282 people. They noticed that patients with severe or critical illness had a massive early rise in plasmablasts that persisted longer than in mild cases. Those with sustained plasmablast expansion had a sixfold higher risk of dying within 30 days.
Further genetic studies of these cells showed that in mild cases, plasmablasts activated genes linked to interferon responses—proteins that strengthen the antiviral defense. In contrast, in severe cases, plasmablasts switched on genes that increase metabolism and inflammation, including those involved in purine metabolism and the production of inflammatory molecules such as ATP. These hyperactive cells acted as “amplifiers,” fueling cytokine storms that damage tissues and blood vessels.
The BAFF connection and its therapeutic potential
The researchers also identified a molecule called BAFF (B-cell activating factor) that keeps plasmablasts alive. BAFF levels were much higher in patients with severe disease, particularly around the seventh day of illness, showing a strong correlation with worsening symptoms. Because BAFF sustains plasmablast overactivity, targeting it with drugs could help prevent the immune system from going into overdrive. One potential candidate is belimumab, an antibody already approved for treating lupus, which works by blocking BAFF’s effects.
Plasmablasts as a diagnostic and therapeutic key
By tracking plasmablast levels and related markers such as CD39, doctors could identify which COVID-19 patients are at greatest risk of severe outcomes. More importantly, future therapies that reduce plasmablast activity or interrupt the BAFF–plasmablast link could calm inflammation while preserving the body’s ability to fight infection
.
A delicate immune balance
The study highlights that plasmablasts are not purely destructive or beneficial—they reflect the body’s complex struggle between protection and harm. When balanced, they provide antibodies and aid recovery. When uncontrolled, they spark widespread inflammation and contribute to long-term immune suppression. Understanding how to regulate these dual-faced cells could reshape how severe viral infections, including COVID-19, are managed.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed journal: Clinical Immunology.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1521661625001846
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