Plasmodium berghei-specific T cells respond to non-processed sporozoites presented by B cells.
The mechanism of malaria protective immunity induced by immunization with radiation-attenuated Plasmodium sporozoites (SPZ) is only partially understood. For example, B and T cell responses specific for the circumsporozoite (CS) protein, a 46 kDa SPZ surface protein, have been characterized; however, events leading to SPZ-specific T cell activation, i.e., processing and presentation of SPZ by antigen-presenting cells have not been investigated. In the present study we describe the in vitro analysis of requirements for accessory cell function in the presentation of SPZ to SPZ-immune T cells. The results establish that SPZ-induced proliferative T cells are reactive to non-processed SPZ presented by activated B cells and, thus, imply that the non-processed form of the SPZ-associated CS protein restricts the induction of the potential CS protein T cell repertoire.
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Department of Biology, Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C.
White
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Krzych
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D000818:Animals; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000502:physiology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010962:Plasmodium berghei / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II