Inhibition of Plasmodium falciparum growth in vitro by CD4+ and CD8+ T cells from non-exposed donors

T cells from most adult non-exposed donors, which express a memory phenotype (CD45RO+), can respond by proliferation to P. falciparum asexual stages in vitro. Such cells may have arisen from exposure to environmental organisms. To address the efficacy of such cells in eliminating parasites and investigate the mechanisms involved, we have used an in vitro assay where parasite growth can be precisely monitored in the presence of different cell preparations. Unfractionated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from both malaria-exposed and non-exposed donors inhibited parasite growth by up to 62% in a two day assay. Purified T cells in the presence of adherent cells had a similar effect, but purified T cells alone or adherent cells alone had minimal effect. Antigens released at the time of schizont rupture were maximally effective in stimulating interferon-γ (IFNγ) production. Neutralizing antibodies to IFNγ showed a partial reduction of growth inhibition in some individuals tested suggesting that different mechanisms may be operative. Neutralizing antibody to TNFα had a partial effect in combination with anti-IFNγ. Antibodies to IL-1 and IL-4 had no effect. T cell fractionation experiments showed that while purified CD4⁺ T cells from some donors produced IFNγ and inhibited parasite growth, purified CD8⁺ T cells could inhibit parasite growth to a greater extent without production of detectable IFNγ. Four parasitised red blood cell clones (CD4⁺, TCRαβ⁺, IFNγ producing) derived from non-exposed donors inhibited parasite growth to comparable levels, but one clone showed low production of IFNγ whilst the other three produced high levels. Our data show that T cells from non-exposed donors have the potential to eliminate malaria parasites via non-IFNγ dependent mechanisms. Such mechanisms may contribute to a degree of innate resistance to malaria in vivo, and may be able to be targeted by malaria vaccine programs.