γδ T-Cell Function in Pathogenesis of Cerebral Malaria in Mice Infected with<i>Plasmodium berghei</i>ANKA

Abstract

Mice depleted of gammadelta T cells by monoclonal antibody treatment and infected with Plasmodium berghei ANKA did not develop cerebral malaria (CM). In striking contrast, delta0/0 mice infected with P. berghei developed CM despite their gammadelta T-cell deficiency. gammadelta T cells appear to be essential for the pathogenesis of CM in mice having experienced normal ontogeny but not in mice genetically deprived of gammadelta T cells from the beginning of life.