Acute P. falciparum malaria induces a loss of CD28 T IFN‐γ producing cells

Abstract
SUMMARY: P. falciparum malaria is associated with increased activation among peripheral lymphocytes. In the present study, we investigated markers of susceptibility to apoptosis and expression of IFN‐γ and IL‐4 by CD28and CD28+T cells in West African children with acute P. falciparum malaria. The study showed increased susceptibility to apoptosis and cytokine production among T lymphocytes during acute malaria but also that T cells, in particular IFN‐γ producing CD28T cells, were substantially reduced. These results are in line with previous studies suggesting that certain T cell subsets are sequestered away from the peripheral blood during P. falciparum malaria.