Effector and memory CD8+ T cells as seen in immunity to malaria |
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| Authors: | Alexandre Morrot Fidel Zavala |
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| Institution: | Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Malaria Research Institute, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA. |
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| Abstract: | Summary: Transgenic (Tg) mice carrying a T‐cell receptor (TCR) specific for a CD8+ T‐cell epitope expressed in pre‐erythrocytic stages of Plasmodium yoelii has proven to be a valuable tool to advance our understanding of this anti‐parasite T‐cell response, as it occurs in vivo. The visualization of CD8+ T cells in vivo and ex vivo greatly facilitated research aimed at characterizing basic features of this T‐cell response such as the kinetics of differentiation and proliferation and the in vivo antigen presentation. Importantly, this research unveiled the existence of early self‐regulatory mechanisms controlling the magnitude of the CD8+ T‐cell response and also identified CD4+ T cells as critical elements in the development of memory populations. This review discusses our recent research using Tg mice and highlights our progress in understanding the CD8+ T‐cell‐mediated immunity against malaria liver stages. |
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