Research

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

Carlos Ocaña-Morgner^1,2 , Kurt A Wong¹ and Ana Rodriguez¹

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

author email corresponding author email

Malaria Journal 2008, 7:88doi:10.1186/1475-2875-7-88

Published:	21 May 2008

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.