AUTHOR=Stager Simona , Rafati Sima 

TITLE=CD8+ T Cells in Leishmania Infections: Friends or Foes?

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Immunology

VOLUME=3

YEAR=2012

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2012.00005

DOI=10.3389/fimmu.2012.00005

ISSN=1664-3224

ABSTRACT=<p>Host protection against several intracellular pathogens requires the induction of CD8<sup>+</sup> T cell responses. CD8<sup>+</sup> T cells are potent effector cells that can produce high amounts of pro-inflammatory cytokines and kill infected target cells efficiently. However, a protective role for CD8<sup>+</sup> T cells during <italic>Leishmania</italic> infections is still controversial and largely depends on the infection model. In this review, we discuss the role of CD8<sup>+</sup> T cells during various types of <italic>Leishmania</italic> infections, following vaccination, and as potential immunotherapeutic targets.</p>