Protective Function of Intermediate T Cells Against Malaria Infection in Mice with Different Genetic Background

Abstract

This review proposed the possibility that malaria protection might be achieved through intermediate T cells, which is one of the constituents of innate immunity. Intermediate T cellsherein have been assessed to represent the flexibility of the immune system with the alteration of genetic background in different mice groups during malaria infection. Intermediate T cellsare unique subset of unconventional lymphocytes that express an intermediate (int) density of TCR-CD3 complex on the surface (TCR ^int cells), which distinguishes them from conventional T cells (thymus-derived T cells or TCR ^high cells). TCR ^int cells comprise from two subsets with a distinct phenotype Natural killer (NK) 1.1 ⁺ subset (i.e NKT cells) and NK1.1 subset. The protective function of TCR ^int cells was challenged by infecting mice from different genetic background with malaria. There wasa prominent expansion of intermediate T cells in the liver of the mice even the genetically deficient one, whichis characteristic of an innate immune response.In parallel with such expansion, no expansion is seen in conventional T cells due to severe thymic atrophy.Thus, intermediate T-cells are emerging as an important subset of lymphocytes; with a protective role that is modulated according to the genetic background of the mice.Added to that establishment of an effective immune defense network to modulate the reciprocal regulation between conventional and unconventional T cells.