title: Interactions between dendritic cells and CD4+ T cells during Plasmodium infection.
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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data may provide a mechanism for the lack of effective adaptive immune responses induced by the Plasmodium parasite.
authors.affiliation: New York University School of Medicine, Department of Medical Parasitology, 341 E 25th street, New York, NY 10010, USA. Carlos.Ocana-Morgner@mailbox.tu-dresden.de
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ocaña-Morgner
authors.forename: Kurt A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017951:Antigen Presentation / Q000276:immunology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008288:Malaria / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018715:Microscopy, Video; D010967:Plasmodium yoelii / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II