Plasmodium falciparum‐specific human T cell clones: evidence for helper and cytotoxic activities

摘要

AbstractThis report describes the isolation, and the phenotypic and functional characterization ofPlasmodium falciparum‐specific human T lymphocyte clones (TLC) obtained from 2 acutely infected and 4 clinically immune donors. Approximately one third of the TLC obtained from the acutely infected patients had the phenotype CD8+/CD4−.No such clones were obtained from the clinically immune donors.P. falciparum‐specific, major histocompatibility complex‐restricted CD8+clones can lyse unrelated tumor cell targets in the presence of anti‐CD3 antibodies, suggesting that these clones have cytotoxic potential. Conversely no killing was obtained with two CD4+P. falciparum‐specific TLC, even in the presence of anti‐CD3 antibody. In addition the helper function of a CD4+clone was demonstrated in a T/B cell coope