Age-dependent impairment of functional helper T cell responses to immunodominant epitopes of Toxoplasma gondii antigens in congenitally infected individuals.
Microbes Infect
; 9(2): 127-33, 2007 Feb.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-17223600
ABSTRACT
Human infection with Toxoplasma gondii is generally asymptomatic in immunocompetent adults while it causes significant morbidity in congenitally infected children. Cell mediated immunity plays the main role in host resistance to T. gondii infection and a Th1 cytokine profile is necessary for protection and control of infection. The present work focused on comparing the helper T cell response to the GRA1 antigen of the parasite between children with congenital toxoplasmosis and healthy adults with acquired infection. We demonstrated that in young children with congenital infection the specific T cell response to parasite antigens is impaired and that such hypo-responsiveness is restored during childhood. Also, we provided clear evidence that in individuals with congenital toxoplasmosis the acquisition of functional helper T cell responses is disease-unrelated and indistinguishable in terms of strength, epitope specificity, and cytokine profile from the corresponding responses in immunocompetent adults with asymptomatic acquired T. gondii infection.
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Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Toxoplasma
/
Toxoplasmose
/
Toxoplasmose Congênita
/
Epitopos Imunodominantes
/
Linfócitos T Auxiliares-Indutores
/
Antígenos de Protozoários
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2007
Tipo de documento:
Article