title: T cell exhaustion in protozoan disease.
abstract: Protozoan parasites cause severe morbidity and mortality in humans worldwide, especially in developing countries where access to chemotherapeutic agents is limited. Although parasites initially evoke a robust immune response, subsequent immunity fails to clear infection, ultimately leading to the chronic stage. This enigmatic situation was initially addressed in chronic viral models, where T cells lose their function, a phenomenon referred to as 'exhaustion'. However, recent studies demonstrate that this paradigm can be extended to protozoan diseases as well, although with notable differences. These studies have revealed that T cell responses generated against Toxoplasma gondii, Plasmodium sp., and Leishmania sp. can become dysfunctional. This review discusses T cell exhaustion in parasitic infection, mechanisms of development, and a possible role in disease outcome.
authors: Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Tropical Medicine, George Washington University, Washington, DC 20037, USA.
authors: Jason P
authors: JP
authors: Gigley
authors: Rajarshi
authors: R
authors: Bhadra
authors: Magali M
authors: MM
authors: Moretto
authors: Imtiaz A
authors: IA
authors: Khan
mesh_terms: D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D006801:Humans; D011528:Protozoan Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology*