Open AccessLymphoproliferative responses to a merozoite surface antigen of Plasmodium falciparum: preliminary evidence for seasonal activation of CD8 + /HLA‐DQ‐restricted suppressor cells
Author(s) -
RILEY E. M.,
MORRISJONES S.,
TAYLORROBINSON A. W.,
HOLDER A. A.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
clinical & experimental immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.329
H-Index - 135
eISSN - 1365-2249
pISSN - 0009-9104
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2249.1993.tb05978.x
Subject(s) - cytotoxic t cell , immunology , biology , antigen , cd8 , plasmodium falciparum , malaria , human leukocyte antigen , immune system , antigen presentation , antibody , virology , t cell , in vitro , genetics
SUMMARY We have investigated the phenotype of human lymphocytes responding to a defined Plasmodium falctparum malaria antigen in vitro . Cells were obtained from the peripheral blood of malaria‐immune donors from an endemic area of West Africa and were tested for proliferation in response lo cloned fragments of a merozoite surface protein (PfMSPI). Depletion and inhibition studies indicated that the majority of proliferating cells were CD4 + and restricted by HLA‐DR or ‐DQ. A proportion of responding cells appeared to be CDS *, but their response was dependent on help from CD4 + cells. In two donors there was evidence that low responses could be enhanced by removal of CDS + cells and/or blocking of antigen presentation by anti‐HLA‐DQ antibodies. This phenomenon was observed in cells collected during the wet (malaria transmission) season but not in cells collected from the same individual during the dry season.