title: Suppression of T-cell proliferative response in Plasmodium falciparum malaria patients--preliminary results.
abstract: We report suppression of T-cell proliferative responses to P.falciparum specific antigen and mitogens. T-cells derived from malaria patients were co-cultured with P.falciparum antigen or mitogens and the T-cell activity determined by radioactive thymidine incorporation assay system. We found inhibition of T-cell responses to P.falciparum antigen in 13 out of 24 malaria patients studied. The suppression ranged from 4%-60%. Results of mitogenic responses of T-cells showed a wide variation. Suppression of concanavalin A (Con A) responses ranged from 48%-64% (4 out of 10 patients) while phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) responses varied from 4%-60% (8 out of 10 patients) and those of purified protein derivative (PPD) antigen from 12%-44% (3 out of 6 patients). Together, these preliminary results show a marked impairment in T-cell responses to parasite antigen and mitogens in P. falciparum infected patients.
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Chemtai
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Okelo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance; D007630:Kenya; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008288:Malaria / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000953:Antigens, Protozoan