Subpopulations of T cells (Tg and Tm) in patients with malaria

In the present study we utilized rosetting techniques to enumerate the putative suppressor (Tg) and helper (Tm) T-cell subpopulations in the peripheral blood of adult Thais with malaria. A lower percentage of both Tg and Tm subpopulations and a lower number and percentage of total T cells was found in these patients during the acute period of infection than in the peripheral blood of healthy donors. However, the percentages of total T, Tg and Tm cells were higher during the convalescent period and were comparable to the values found in the peripheral blood of healthy donors. The significance of these findings are discussed. No correlations were found between the percentage of these T-cell subpopulations and the level of parasitemia or the hematocrit.