Inhibition of Plasmodium falciparum in vitro by human gamma delta T cells.

MM Elloso, HC Van Der Heyde… - … (Baltimore, Md.: 1950 …, 1994 - journals.aai.org
MM Elloso, HC Van Der Heyde, JA Vande Waa, DD Manning, WP Weidanz
Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md.: 1950), 1994journals.aai.org
As assessed by flow cytometry, human gamma delta T cells were shown here to inhibit
replication of blood-stage Plasmodium falciparum in vitro in a dose-dependent fashion; no
other leukocyte population tested was suppressive. Replication of intraerythrocytic stages of
the parasite (rings, trophozoites, and schizonts) was not affected by coculture with gamma
delta T cells nor were erythrocytes damaged by this coculture, indicating that the targets
recognized by gamma delta T cells are extracellular merozoites in transit to new host …
Abstract
As assessed by flow cytometry, human gamma delta T cells were shown here to inhibit replication of blood-stage Plasmodium falciparum in vitro in a dose-dependent fashion; no other leukocyte population tested was suppressive. Replication of intraerythrocytic stages of the parasite (rings, trophozoites, and schizonts) was not affected by coculture with gamma delta T cells nor were erythrocytes damaged by this coculture, indicating that the targets recognized by gamma delta T cells are extracellular merozoites in transit to new host erythrocytes. Moreover, parasite inhibition requires contact between gamma delta T cells and merozoites. These findings suggest that gamma delta T cells may exert a protective effect in immunity to malaria.
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