Inhibition of Plasmodium falciparum in vitro by human gamma delta T cells.
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.
Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Medical School, University of Wisconsin-Madison 53706.
M M
MM
Elloso
H C
HC
van der Heyde
J A
JA
vande Waa
D D
DD
Manning
W P
WP
Weidanz
D000818:Animals; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000469:parasitology*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000276:immunology*; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology*; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000276:immunology*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*
D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta