Dendritic Cells and Their Multiple Roles during Malaria Infection

Dendritic cells (DCs) play a central role in the initiation of adaptive immune responses, efficiently presenting antigens to T cells. This ability relies on the presence of numerous surface and intracellular receptors capable of sensing microbial components as well as inflammation and on a very effi...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Kelly N. S. Amorim, Daniele C. G. Chagas, Fernando B. Sulczewski, Silvia B. Boscardin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Hindawi Limited 2016-01-01
Series:Journal of Immunology Research
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/2926436
Description
Summary:Dendritic cells (DCs) play a central role in the initiation of adaptive immune responses, efficiently presenting antigens to T cells. This ability relies on the presence of numerous surface and intracellular receptors capable of sensing microbial components as well as inflammation and on a very efficient machinery for antigen presentation. In this way, DCs sense the presence of a myriad of pathogens, including Plasmodium spp., the causative agent of malaria. Despite many efforts to control this infection, malaria is still responsible for high rates of morbidity and mortality. Different groups have shown that DCs act during Plasmodium infection, and data suggest that the phenotypically distinct DCs subsets are key factors in the regulation of immunity during infection. In this review, we will discuss the importance of DCs for the induction of immunity against the different stages of Plasmodium, the outcomes of DCs activation, and also what is currently known about Plasmodium components that trigger such activation.
ISSN:2314-8861
2314-7156