Abstract.
Cells involved in innate and adapted immunity produce cytokines capable of orchestrating the immune response to Babesia and Theileria infections. Thus, CD4-postive T cells recognise peptide fragments of the parasites in the context of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II antigen and produce gamma interferon ( IFN-γ) to activate macrophages for enhanced phagocytosis and intracellular killing of the parasites. In addition, CD4-positive T cells produce interleukin 2 (IL-2) which is essential for the clonal expansion of CD8-positive T cells. The latter cells kill Theileria-infected host leucocytes in an MHC class I-dependent manner. On the other hand, the overproduction of proinflammatory cytokines contributes to disease progress.
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Ahmed, J. The role of cytokines in immunity and immunopathogenesis of pirolasmoses. Parasitol Res 88 (Suppl 1), S48–S50 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-001-0573-4
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-001-0573-4