AUTHOR=Kumarasingha Rasika , Ioannidis Lisa J. , Abeysekera Waruni , Studniberg Stephanie , Wijesurendra Dinidu , Mazhari Ramin , Poole Daniel P. , Mueller Ivo , Schofield Louis , Hansen Diana S. , Eriksson Emily M. 

TITLE=Transcriptional Memory-Like Imprints and Enhanced Functional Activity in γδ T Cells Following Resolution of Malaria Infection

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Immunology

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/immunology/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2020.582358

DOI=10.3389/fimmu.2020.582358

ISSN=1664-3224

ABSTRACT=<p>γδ T cells play an essential role in the immune response to many pathogens, including <italic>Plasmodium</italic>. However, long-lasting effects of infection on the γδ T cell population still remain inadequately understood. This study focused on assessing molecular and functional changes that persist in the γδ T cell population following resolution of malaria infection. We investigated transcriptional changes and memory-like functional capacity of malaria pre-exposed γδ T cells using a <italic>Plasmodium</italic><italic>chabaudi</italic> infection model. We show that multiple genes associated with effector function (chemokines, cytokines and cytotoxicity) and antigen-presentation were upregulated in <italic>P. chabaudi</italic>-exposed γδ T cells compared to γδ T cells from naïve mice. This transcriptional profile was positively correlated with profiles observed in conventional memory CD8<sup>+</sup> T cells and was accompanied by enhanced reactivation upon secondary encounter with <italic>Plasmodium</italic>-infected red blood cells <italic>in vitro</italic>. Collectively our data demonstrate that <italic>Plasmodium</italic> exposure result in “memory-like imprints” in the γδ T cell population and also promotes γδ T cells that can support antigen-presentation during subsequent infections.</p>