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Clinical illness with Plasmodium falciparum or Plasmodium vivax compromises the function of dendritic cells (DC) and expands regulatory T (Treg) cells. Individuals with asymptomatic parasitemia have clinical immunity, restricting parasite expansion and preventing clinical disease. The role of DC and Treg cells during asymptomatic Plasmodium infection is unclear. During a cross-sectional household survey in Papua, Indonesia, we examined the number and activation of blood plasmacytoid DC (pDC), CD141(+), and CD1c(+) myeloid DC (mDC) subsets and Treg cells using flow cytometry in 168 afebrile children (of whom 15 had P. falciparum and 36 had P. vivax infections) and 162 afebrile adults (of whom 20 had P. falciparum and 20 had P. vivax infections), alongside samples from 16 patients hospitalized with uncomplicated malaria. Unlike DC from malaria patients, DC from children and adults with asymptomatic, microscopy-positive P. vivax or P. falciparum infection increased or retained HLA-DR expression. Treg cells in asymptomatic adults and children exhibited reduced activation, suggesting increased immune responsiveness. The pDC and mDC subsets varied according to clinical immunity (asymptomatic or symptomatic Plasmodium infection) and, in asymptomatic infection, according to host age and parasite species. In conclusion, active control of asymptomatic infection was associated with and likely contingent upon functional DC and reduced Treg cell activation.

Original publication

DOI

10.1128/IAI.00226-15

Type

Journal article

Journal

Infect Immun

Publication Date

08/2015

Volume

83

Pages

3224 - 3232

Keywords

Adolescent, Adult, Asymptomatic Diseases, Child, Child, Preschool, Cross-Sectional Studies, Dendritic Cells, Down-Regulation, Female, Flow Cytometry, HLA-DR Antigens, Humans, Indonesia, Lymphocyte Activation, Malaria, Falciparum, Malaria, Vivax, Male, Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax, T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory, Young Adult