Cited by 126Malaria Research and ControlBarrier Structure and Function StudiesBacterial Infections and Vaccines

CD8+ T Cells Induce Fatal Brainstem Pathology during Cerebral Malaria via Luminal Antigen-Specific Engagement of Brain Vasculature

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Swanson, Phillip A., Hart, Geoffrey T., Russo, Matthew V., Nayak, Debasis, Yazew, Takele, Peña, Mirna, Khan, Shahid M., Janse, Chris J. +2 more·2016·PLOS Pathogens

Abstract

Cerebral malaria (CM) is a severe complication of Plasmodium falciparum infection that results in thousands of deaths each year, mostly in African children. The in vivo mechanisms underlying this fatal condition are not entirely understood. Using the animal model of experimental cerebral malaria (ECM), we sought mechanistic insights into the pathogenesis of CM. Fatal disease was associated with alterations in tight junction proteins, vascular breakdown in the meninges / parenchyma, edema, and ultimately neuronal cell death in the brainstem, which is consistent with cerebral herniation as a cause of death. At the peak of ECM, we revealed using intravital two-photon microscopy that myelomonocytic cells and parasite-specific CD8+ T cells associated primarily with the luminal surface of CNS blood vessels. Myelomonocytic cells participated in the removal of parasitized red blood cells (pRBCs) from cerebral blood vessels, but were not required for the disease. Interestingly, the majority of disease-inducing parasite-specific CD8+ T cells interacted with the lumen of brain vascular endothelial cells (ECs), where they were observed surveying, dividing, and arresting in a cognate peptide-MHC I dependent manner. These activities were critically dependent on IFN-γ, which was responsible for activating cerebrovascular ECs to upregulate adhesion and antigen-presenting molecules. Importantly, parasite-specific CD8+ T cell interactions with cerebral vessels were impaired in chimeric mice rendered unable to present EC antigens on MHC I, and these mice were in turn resistant to fatal brainstem pathology. Moreover, anti-adhesion molecule (LFA-1 / VLA-4) therapy prevented fatal disease by rapidly displacing luminal CD8+ T cells from cerebrovascular ECs without affecting extravascular T cells. These in vivo data demonstrate that parasite-specific CD8+ T cell-induced fatal vascular breakdown and subsequent neuronal death during ECM is associated with luminal, antigen-dependent interactions with cerebrovasculature.

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Crossref · 10.1371/journal.ppat.1006022

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  • Displacement of these T cells from CNS vasculature by therapeutic administration of antibodies to LFA-1 and VLA-4 prevented the disease.

    “Displacement of these T cells from CNS vasculature by means of therapeutic administration of antibodies to LFA-1 and VLA-4 prevented the disease (157).”
  • In rodents, BBB breakdown and fatal edema are caused by parasite-specific CD8+ T cell engagement of cerebrovascular endothelial cells that cross-present parasite antigen.

    “In rodents, it was revealed that BBB breakdown and fatal edema are caused by parasite-specific CD8+ T cell engagement of cerebrovascular endothelial cells that cross-present parasite antigen (157, 158).”
  • Death from cerebral malaria results from the accumulation of water in the cranium and brainstem herniation.

    “Similar to LCMV meningitis, death from cerebral malaria results from the accumulation of water in the cranium and brainstem herniation (156, 157).”

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Authors
Swanson, P. A., Hart, G. T., Russo, M. V., Nayak, D., Yazew, T., Peña, M., Khan, S. M., Janse, C. J., Pierce, S. K., & McGavern, D. B.
Affiliations
  • National Institutes of Health (US)
  • National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (US)
  • Indian Institute of Technology Indore (IN)
  • Leiden University Medical Center (NL)
Corresponding author
McGavern, Dorian B.
Venue
PLOS Pathogens
Published
2016-12-01
Volume
12
Issue
12
Pages
e1006022
ISSN
  • 1553-7366 (ISSN-L)
  • 1553-7374
OpenAlex
W2558563646
Cited by
125
References
91
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 26 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 11
FWCI
16.20
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • PLoS Pathogens (publishedVersion, public-domain)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, public-domain)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion)
  • Leiden Repository (Leiden University) (submittedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health
  • National Institute of Mental Health
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Malaria Research and Control
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Barrier Structure and Function Studies
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Microbiology › Bacterial Infections and Vaccines
Keywords
cerebral malaria, experimental cerebral malaria, CD8+ T cells, Plasmodium falciparum, brainstem pathology, brain endothelial cells, tight junctions, brain herniation, neuronal cell death, myelomonocytic cells, parasitized red blood cells, interferon-gamma, MHC class I antigen presentation, LFA-1, VLA-4, adhesion molecules, cerebral edema
MeSH terms
Animals, Blood Vessels, Blood-Brain Barrier, Brain Stem, Disease Models, Animal, Flow Cytometry, Immunohistochemistry, Mice, Transgenic, Plasmodium berghei, Malaria, Cerebral, CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes, Mice

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