Malawian children with uncomplicated and cerebral malaria have decreased activated V?9V?2 ?? T cells which increase in convalescence.
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ABSTRACT: Malaria is responsible for almost half a million deaths annually. The role of V?9V?2 ?? T cells in malaria is still unclear. Studies have reported an association between this cell subset and malaria symptoms and severity. Profiles of V?9V?2 ?? T cells in bigger cohorts with different levels of clinical severity have not been described. Proportion, numbers, and activation status of V?9V?2 ?? T cells were measured by flow cytometry in 59 healthy controls (HCs), 58 children with uncomplicated malaria (UM) and 67 with cerebral malaria (CM,) during acute malaria and in convalescence 28 days later. V?9V?2 ?? T cell were lower in children presenting with UM and CM than in HCs. Cell counts did not vary with malaria severity (CM median counts 40 x 103 cells/?L, IQR [23-103]; UM median counts 30 x 103 cells/?L [10-90], P = 0.224). V?9V?2 ?? T cell counts increased during convalescence for UM (70 [40-60] x 103 cells/?L and CM (90 [60-140] x 103 cells/?L), to levels similar to those in HCs (70 [50-140] x 103 cells/?L), p = 0.70 and p = 0.40 respectively. Expression of the activation markers CD69 and HLA-DR on V?9V?2 ?? T cells was higher in malaria cases than in controls (HCs vs UM or CM, p < 0.0001) but was similar between UM and CM. HLA-DR expression remained elevated at 28 days, suggesting sustained activation of V?9V?2 ?? T cells during recovery. V?9V?2 ?? T cell proportions and cells counts were suppressed in acute disease and normalized in convalescence, a phenomenon previously hypothesized to be due to transient migration of the cells to secondary lymphoid tissue. The presence of highly activated V?9V?2 ?? T cells suggests that this T cell subset plays a specific role in response to malaria infection.
SUBMITTER: Harawa V
PROVIDER: S-EPMC6786631 | biostudies-literature | 2019
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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