Journal article
Age-dependent changes in circulating Tfh cells influence development of functional malaria antibodies in children
JA Chan, JR Loughland, L de la Parte, S Okano, I Ssewanyana, M Nalubega, F Nankya, K Musinguzi, J Rek, E Arinaitwe, P Tipping, P Bourke, D Andrew, N Dooley, A SheelaNair, BD Wines, PM Hogarth, JG Beeson, B Greenhouse, G Dorsey Show all
Nature Communications | NATURE PORTFOLIO | Published : 2022
Abstract
T-follicular helper (Tfh) cells are key drivers of antibodies that protect from malaria. However, little is known regarding the host and parasite factors that influence Tfh and functional antibody development. Here, we use samples from a large cross-sectional study of children residing in an area of high malaria transmission in Uganda to characterize Tfh cells and functional antibodies to multiple parasites stages. We identify a dramatic re-distribution of the Tfh cell compartment with age that is independent of malaria exposure, with Th2-Tfh cells predominating in early childhood, while Th1-Tfh cell gradually increase to adult levels over the first decade of life. Functional antibody acquis..
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Awarded by National Institutes of Health
Funding Acknowledgements
We thank Australian Red Cross Blood Service for providing malaria naive samples. We thank all staff of Infectious Disease Research Collaboration, Uganda. We thank all study volunteers and their guardians. This work was supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (Early Career Fellowship 1125656, Career Development Award 1141278, Project Grant 1125656 and Ideas Grant 1181932 to M.J.B.; Senior Research Fellowship 1077636 to J.G.B.). Additional support was provided by NIH (U19 A108974 to G.D., and U01 AI150741 to P.J.). The Burnet Institute is supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council for Independent Research Institutes Infrastructure Support Scheme and the Victorian State Government Operational Infrastructure Support.