Research
Interactions between dendritic cells and CD4+ T cells during Plasmodium infection
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* Corresponding author: Ana Rodriguez ana.rodriguez@nyu.edu
1 New York University School of Medicine, Department of Medical Parasitology, 341 E 25th street, New York, NY 10010, USA
2 Institute of Physiological Chemistry, Medical School, MTZ, Dresden University of Technology, Fiedlerstr. 42, 01307 Dresden, Germany
Malaria Journal 2008, 7:88 doi:10.1186/1475-2875-7-88
Published: 21 May 2008Abstract
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.