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Activation of human NK cells by malaria-infected red blood cells

Amir Horowitz1, Eleanor M Riley

  • 1Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.

Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)
|December 25, 2009
PubMed

Insights

This protocol details assessing human Natural Killer (NK) cell activation after in vitro exposure to malaria-infected red blood cells. It measures NK cell responses using flow cytometry and specific cell surface and intracellular markers.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Parasitology

Background:

  • Malaria, caused by Plasmodium falciparum, poses a significant global health challenge.
  • Human Natural Killer (NK) cells play a crucial role in the immune response against parasitic infections.
  • Understanding NK cell activation by infected erythrocytes is vital for developing malaria immunotherapies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To establish a detailed protocol for assessing human NK cell activation in vitro.
  • To investigate the response of NK cells upon stimulation with Plasmodium falciparum-infected red blood cells.
  • To provide a standardized method for NK cell activation assays in malaria research.

Main Methods:

  • In vitro propagation and purification of Plasmodium falciparum parasites.
  • Isolation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from human blood via density centrifugation.
  • In vitro culture of PBMC and stimulation with infected red blood cells.
  • Flow cytometry analysis for cell surface CD69 expression and intracellular IFN-gamma accumulation.

Main Results:

  • The protocol enables quantitative assessment of NK cell activation markers.
  • Demonstrates characteristic changes in CD69 expression and IFN-gamma production following stimulation.
  • Provides representative flow cytometry plots for data interpretation.

Conclusions:

  • This protocol offers a reliable method for studying NK cell-mediated immune responses to malaria.
  • Facilitates further research into NK cell function and therapeutic strategies against Plasmodium falciparum.
  • A valuable tool for immunologists and researchers in infectious disease studies.

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