Pathogenic T cells in cerebral malaria.
Malaria remains a major global health problem and cerebral malaria (CM) is one of the most serious complications of this disease. Recent years have seen important advances in our understanding of the pathogenesis of cerebral malaria. Parasite sequestration, a hallmark of this syndrome, is thought to be solely responsible for the pathological process. However, this phenomenon cannot explain all aspects of the pathogenesis of CM. The use of an animal model, Plasmodium berghei ANKA in mice, has allowed the identification of specific pathological components of CM. Although multiple pathways may lead to CM, an important role for CD8+ T cells has been clarified. Other cells, including platelets, and mediators such as cytokines also have an important role. In this review we have focused on the role of T cells, and discuss what remains to be studied to understand the pathways by which these cells mediate CM.
Rénia
Laurent
L
Department of Immunology, Institut Cochin, INSERM U567, CNRS UMR 8104, Université René Descartes, Hôpital Cochin, Paris, France. renia@cochin.inserm.fr
Potter
Sarah M
SM
Mauduit
Marjorie
M
Rosa
Daniela Santoro
DS
Kayibanda
Michèle
M
Deschemin
Jean-Christophe
JC
Snounou
Georges
G
Grüner
Anne Charlotte
AC
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000276:immunology; D002634:Chemotaxis, Leukocyte; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D016779:Malaria, Cerebral / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D010962:Plasmodium berghei / Q000472:pathogenicity; D013045:Species Specificity; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*