Immunopathology of malaria: emergence of a new T-lymphocyte reactivity

Recent knowledge on certain populations of non-conventional T-lymphocytes has suggested that gamma delta T cells might play an important role in the orientation of the immune response. In human and mouse malaria, massive activation of the gamma delta T cell population is observed. This activation can lead to the production of high levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines relevant for malaria pathology induction. Studies investigating the role of gamma delta T cells have been conducted in different mice model where alpha beta T cells have been eliminated. In these studies, gamma delta T cells have been shown to be protective against the pre-erythrocytic stage of malaria infection but their role remains unclear concerning the blood infection. The recent discovery of the set of ligands leading to simulation of Human gamma delta T cell subsets expressing the V gamma 9V delta 2 chains of the T cell receptor may give new insights about their mode of activation and their potential role in the induction of malaria pathology.