ArticleMalaria journal2018
Characterization of T cell activation and regulation in children with asymptomatic Plasmodium falciparum infection.
Article in Malaria journal, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 17 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
17 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 30 citations in OpenAlex.
- Reduction in total leukocytes in malaria patients compared to febrile controls: A systematic review and meta-analysis.PloS one · 2020Pooled it
- Cytotoxic T Cell-Derived Granzyme B Is Increased in SevereFrontiers in immunology · 2019Trial
- CD4 and CD8 T-cell response is dominated by IL-10-secreting cells in children with uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria.ImmunoHorizons · 2025Article
- Overview of the host immune response toJournal of parasitic diseases : official organ of the Indian Society for Parasitology · 2025Review
- Regulatory T cell memory: implications for malaria.Journal of immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950) · 2025Review
- Plasmodium falciparum Malaria Is Associated With Increased Kaposi Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus (KSHV) Seropositivity and Higher KSHV Antibody Breadth and Magnitude: Results of a Case-Control Study From Rural Uganda.The Journal of infectious diseases · 2024Article
- Malaria elimination in Ghana: recommendations for reactive case detection strategy implementation in a low endemic area of Asutsuare, Ghana.Malaria journal · 2024Review
- Effects of Malaria and HIV Infection on Anemia and T-cells Levels in Children in Douala City, Cameroon.Cureus · 2022Article
- Perturbations in the T cell receptor β repertoire during malaria infection in children: A preliminary study.Frontiers in immunology · 2022Article
- The role of different components of the immune system against Plasmodium falciparum malaria: Possible contribution towards malaria vaccine development.Molecular and biochemical parasitology · 2021Review
- Comparison of the impact of allelic polymorphisms in PfAMA1 on the induction of T Cell responses in high and low malaria endemic communities in Ghana.Malaria journal · 2021Article
- Article
- Asymptomatic Malaria Infection Is Maintained by a Balanced Pro- and Anti-inflammatory Response.Frontiers in microbiology · 2020Article
- Phenotypic Evidence of T Cell Exhaustion and Senescence During SymptomaticFrontiers in immunology · 2019Article
- The Binary Classification Of Chronic Diseases.Journal of inflammation research · 2019Article
- UnderstandingFrontiers in immunology · 2019Review
- Novel Strategies for Malaria Vaccine Design.Frontiers in immunology · 2018Review
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Authors and funding
5 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundAsymptomatic Plasmodium infections are characterized by the absence of clinical disease and the ability to restrict parasite replication. Increasing levels of regulatory T cells (Tregs) in Plasmodium falciparum infections have been associated with the risk of developing clinical disease, suggesting that individuals with asymptomatic infections may have reduced Treg frequency. However, the relationship between Tregs, cellular activation and parasite control in asymptomatic malaria remains unclear.
methodsIn a cross-sectional study, the levels of Tregs and other T cell activation phenotypes were compared using flow cytometry in symptomatic, asymptomatic and uninfected children before and after stimulation with infected red blood cell lysates (iRBCs). In addition, the association between these T cell phenotypes and parasitaemia were investigated.
resultsIn children with asymptomatic infections, levels of Tregs and activated T cells were comparable to those in healthy controls but significantly lower than those in symptomatic children. After iRBC stimulation, levels of Tregs remained lower for asymptomatic versus symptomatic children. In contrast, levels of activated T cells were higher for asymptomatic children. Strikingly, the pre-stimulation levels of two T cell activation phenotypes (CD8+CD69+ and CD8+CD25+CD69+) and the post-stimulation levels of two regulatory phenotypes (CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ and CD8+CD25+Foxp3+) were significantly positively correlated with and explained 68% of the individual variation in parasitaemia. A machine-learning model based on levels of these four phenotypes accurately distinguished between asymptomatic and symptomatic children (sensitivity = 86%, specificity = 94%), suggesting that these phenotypes govern the observed variation in disease status.
conclusionCompared to symptomatic P. falciparum infections, in children asymptomatic infections are characterized by lower levels of Tregs and activated T cells, which are associated with lower parasitaemia. The results indicate that T cell regulatory and activation phenotypes govern both parasitaemia and disease status in paediatric malaria in the studied sub-Saharan African population.
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