Acute P. falciparum malaria induces a loss of CD28- T IFN-γ producing cells

Abstract

P. falciparum malaria is associated with increased activation among peripheral lymphocytes. In the present study, we investigated markers of susceptibility to apoptosis and expression of IFN-γ and IL-4 by CD28- and CD28+ T cells in West African children with acute P. falciparum malaria. The study showed increased susceptibility to apoptosis and cytokine production among T lymphocytes during acute malaria but also that T cells, in particular IFN-γ producing CD28- T cells, were substantially reduced. These results are in line with previous studies suggesting that certain T cell subsets are sequestered away from the peripheral blood during P. falciparum malaria.