The Spleen CD4+ T Cell Response to Blood-Stage Plasmodium chabaudi Malaria Develops in Two Phases Characterized by Different Properties CD4+ T Cells in Malaria
2011

The Spleen CD4+ T Cell Response to Blood-Stage Plasmodium chabaudi Malaria Develops in Two Phases

Sample size: 10 publication 10 minutes Evidence: high

Author Information

Author(s): Muxel Sandra Marcia, Freitas do Rosário Ana Paula, Zago Cláudia Augusta, Castillo-Méndez Sheyla Inés, Sardinha Luiz Roberto, Rodriguez-Málaga Sérgio Marcelo, Câmara Niels Olsen Saraiva, Álvarez José Maria, D'Império Lima Maria Regina

Primary Institution: Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

Hypothesis

The study investigates the behavior of non-conventional and conventional splenic CD4+ T cells during P. chabaudi malaria.

Conclusion

Conventional CD4+ T cells play a central role in the immune response to P. chabaudi malaria, acting in parallel with non-conventional CD4+ T cells.

Supporting Evidence

  • Conventional CD4+ T cells are the main protagonists of the immune response to infection.
  • The early phase of the response is intense and short lasting, providing large amounts of proinflammatory cytokines.
  • IFN-γ production is primarily dependent on conventional CD4+ T cells.
  • CD1d-restricted CD4+ T cells contribute at the beginning of the second phase of the response.

Takeaway

When mice get infected with malaria, their immune system has two phases of response, with one type of immune cell helping fight the infection right away and another type helping later on.

Methodology

The study used various mouse models to analyze the immune response, including flow cytometry and cytokine production assays.

Limitations

The study only addresses the immune response to blood-stage parasites and does not consider the influence of pre-erythrocytic stages.

Participant Demographics

Mice used were C57BL/6 (wild type), CD1d-/-, and I-Ab-/- male mice aged six to eight weeks.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.05

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1371/journal.pone.0022434

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