Interactions between dendritic cells and CD4 + T cells during Plasmodium infection

• Published in: Malaria Journal
• Main Authors: Wong Kurt A, Ocaña-Morgner Carlos, Rodriguez Ana
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2008
• Subjects: Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Infectious and parasitic diseases; RC109-216; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2875-7-88; https://doaj.org/article/a72db0e6591f4020bed9bc75dbac1f66

Abstract Background During infection, dendritic cells (DCs) encounter pathogenic microorganisms that can modulate their function and shape the T cell responses generated. During the process of T cell activation, DCs establish strong, long-lasting interactions with naïve T cells. Methods Using a mouse malaria model, the interactions of DCs and naïve CD4 + T cells have been analysed. Results DCs, either incubated in vitro with infected erythrocytes or isolated from infected mice, are able to present exogenous antigens by MHC-II, but are not able to establish prolonged effective interactions with naïve CD4 + T cells and do not induce T cell activation. It was also found that effective T cell activation of naïve CD4 + T cells is impaired during late Plasmodium yoelii infection. Conclusion These data may provide a mechanism for the lack of effective adaptive immune responses induced by the Plasmodium parasite.