Immunoregulatory alterations in Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax infections
Merino, F.; Layrisse, Z.; Godoy, G.; Volcán, G.
Tropical Medicine and Parasitology Official Organ of Deutsche Tropenmedizinische Gesellschaft and of Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit 37(3): 241-244
1986
ISSN/ISBN: 0177-2392 PMID: 2947313 Document Number: 271326
Studies on the immune function of patients with acute Plasmodium vivax or P. falciparum infections were performed. All subjects were residing in recent malaria endemic areas of Venezuela. Lymphopenia, reduction of peripheral blood T-lymphocytes positive for monoclonal antibody OKT4 (T helper) a decrease of in vitro mitogenic proliferative response and natural killer cell activity were observed. Serum lymphocytotoxic antibodies reactive at 37 degrees C were detected in both groups of patients as well as serum autoantibodies. The possible role of lymphocytotoxic autoantibodies in the etiology of the T-lymphocyte depletion and acquired immunological perturbations in human malaria is discussed.