Interleukin-2 reverses T cell unresponsiveness to Plasmodium falciparum-antigen in malaria immune subjects

• Published in: Cellular immunology Vol. 128; no. 1; pp. 1 - 10
• Main Authors: Chizzolini, Carlo, Geinoz, Anne, Schrijvers, Dirk
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: San Diego, CA Elsevier Inc 01.06.1990; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animals; Antigens, CD - analysis; Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte - analysis; Antigens, Protozoan - immunology; Biological and medical sciences; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - immunology; CD8 Antigens; Cells, Cultured; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Human protozoal diseases; Humans; In Vitro Techniques; Infectious diseases; Interleukin-2 - pharmacology; Lymphocyte Activation; Malaria; Malaria - immunology; Medical sciences; Parasitic diseases; Plasmodium falciparum - immunology; Protozoal diseases; Recombinant Proteins; T-Lymphocytes - immunology; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory - immunology; Tropical medicine; Human; Cell proliferation; Protozoa; Protozoal disease; Immune response; Malaria; Suppression; Cytokine; Cellular immunity; Endemy; Cell subpopulation; Mechanism; Infection; Antigen; Plasmodium falciparum; Interleukin 2; T-Lymphocyte; Sporozoa
• ISSN: 0008-8749; 1090-2163
• DOI: 10.1016/0008-8749(90)90001-8

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from a large proportion of 34 healthy adult native residents in a malaria endemic area showed null or marginal proliferative response (low-responders) to schizont-enriched Plasmodium falciparum malaria antigen (M.Ag) but good response to pokeweed mitogen. In contrast, substantial proliferative response to M.Ag was observed in 8 8 adult temporary residents with a history of one to three acute malaria episodes. Purified CD4+ T cells preferentially responded to M.Ag, however in low-responders CD4+ T cell proliferation was poor. Moreover, no inhibition of CD4+ T cell proliferation was observed when graded numbers of CD8+ T cells were added in culture. The addition of recombinant interleukin 2 (rIL-2) to M.Ag restored the proliferative response of low-responders' PBMC. This response was M.Ag-specific when CD4+ T cells grown in M.Ag plus rIL-2, but not in rIL-2 alone, were tested in secondary cultures.