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Review
. 2022 Apr 20:13:863568.
doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.863568. eCollection 2022.

Cerebral Malaria: Current Clinical and Immunological Aspects

Karin Albrecht-Schgoer  1 , Peter Lackner  2 , Erich Schmutzhard  3 , Gottfried Baier  1
Affiliations
Review

Cerebral Malaria: Current Clinical and Immunological Aspects

Karin Albrecht-Schgoer et al. Front Immunol. .

Abstract

This review focuses on current clinical and immunological aspects of cerebral malaria induced by Plasmodium falciparum infection. Albeit many issues concerning the inflammatory responses remain unresolved and need further investigations, current knowledge of the underlying molecular mechanisms is highlighted. Furthermore, and in the light of significant limitations in preventative diagnosis and treatment of cerebral malaria, this review mainly discusses our understanding of immune mechanisms in the light of the most recent research findings. Remarkably, the newly proposed CD8+ T cell-driven pathophysiological aspects within the central nervous system are summarized, giving first rational insights into encouraging studies with immune-modulating adjunctive therapies that protect from symptomatic cerebral participation of Plasmodium falciparum infection.

Keywords: CD8+; T cell sequestration; activation of the brain endothelium; blood brain barrier (BBB); cerebral malaria (CM); host virulence factors; parasite virulence factors; pathophysiology of CM.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
CD8+ T cell dependent CM pathology.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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