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

• Main Authors: Rasika Kumarasingha, Lisa J. Ioannidis, Waruni Abeysekera, Stephanie Studniberg, Dinidu Wijesurendra, Ramin Mazhari, Daniel P. Poole, Ivo Mueller, Louis Schofield, Diana S. Hansen, Emily M. Eriksson
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2020-10-01
• Series: Frontiers in Immunology
• Subjects: RNA-Seq; memory; Plasmodium; chabaudi; γδ T cell
• Online Access: https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fimmu.2020.582358/full

γδ T cells play an essential role in the immune response to many pathogens, including Plasmodium. 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 Plasmodiumchabaudi infection model. We show that multiple genes associated with effector function (chemokines, cytokines and cytotoxicity) and antigen-presentation were upregulated in P. chabaudi-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+ T cells and was accompanied by enhanced reactivation upon secondary encounter with Plasmodium-infected red blood cells in vitro. Collectively our data demonstrate that Plasmodium 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.