Analysis of the lymphocyte cell population during malaria caused by Plasmodium vivax and its correlation with parasitaemia and thrombocytopaenia

摘要

BackgroundThe mechanisms of activation and regulation of T lymphocytes and their cytokines in malaria caused by Plasmodium vivax are complex and poorly understood. Previous data suggest that T cells balance protective immune responses with immune mediated pathology in malaria. This study investigates the lymphocytic profile of patients infected with P. vivax by identifying and quantifying the specific sub-populations of Th1, Th2, Th17 and Treg cells and observing the correlation between parasitaemia and the number of platelets.