title: Holoendemic malaria exposure is associated with altered Epstein-Barr virus-specific CD8(+) T-cell differentiation.
abstract: Coinfection with Plasmodium falciparum malaria and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a major risk factor for endemic Burkitt lymphoma (eBL), still one of the most prevalent pediatric cancers in equatorial Africa. Although malaria infection has been associated with immunosuppression, the precise mechanisms that contribute to EBV-associated lymphomagenesis remain unclear. In this study, we used polychromatic flow cytometry to characterize CD8(+) T-cell subsets specific for EBV-derived lytic (BMFL1 and BRLF1) and latent (LMP1, LMP2, and EBNA3C) antigens in individuals with divergent malaria exposure. No malaria-associated differences in EBV-specific CD8(+) T-cell frequencies were observed. However, based on a multidimensional analysis of CD45RO, CD27, CCR7, CD127, CD57, and PD-1 expression, we found that individuals living in regions with intense and perennial (holoendemic) malaria transmission harbored more differentiated EBV-specific CD8(+) T-cell populations that contained fewer central memory cells than individuals living in regions with little or no (hypoendemic) malaria. This profile shift was most marked for EBV-specific CD8(+) T-cell populations that targeted latent antigens. Importantly, malaria exposure did not skew the phenotypic properties of either cytomegalovirus (CMV)-specific CD8(+) T cells or the global CD8(+) memory T-cell pool. These observations define a malaria-associated aberration localized to the EBV-specific CD8(+) T-cell compartment that illuminates the etiology of eBL.
authors.affiliation: Vaccine Research Center, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Pratip K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Chattopadhyay
authors.forename: Kiprotich
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chelimo
authors.forename: Paula B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Embury
authors.forename: David H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Mulama
authors.forename: Peter Odada
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Sumba
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gostick
authors.forename: Kristin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ladell
authors.forename: Tess M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Brodie
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vulule
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Roederer
authors.forename: Ann M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Moormann
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Price
mesh_terms: D000349:Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D060085:Coinfection / Q000276:immunology*; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology*; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology