A population of CD4hiCD38hi T cells correlates with disease severity in patients with acute malaria.
Simon H ApteGabriela MinigoPenny L GrovesJessie C SpargoMagdalena PlebanskiMathew J GriggEnny KenangalemJulie G BurelJessica R LoughlandKatie L FlanaganKim A PieraTimothy WilliamRic N PriceTonia WoodberryBridget E BarberNicholas M AnsteyDenise L DoolanPublished in: Clinical & translational immunology (2020)
In naturally infected adults with acute malaria, a prominent population of type 1 regulatory T cells arises that can be defined by high co-expression of CD4 and CD38 (CD4hiCD38hi) and that correlates with disease severity in patients with falciparum malaria. This study provides fundamental insights into T-cell biology, including the first evidence that CD4 expression is modulated at the mRNA level. These findings have important implications for understanding the balance between immunity and immunopathology during malaria.