Expansion of CD8+CD57+ T Cells in an Immunocompetent Patient with Acute Toxoplasmosis

Abstract

CD57+ T cells increase in several viral infections like cytomegalovirus, herpesvirus, parvovirus, HIV and hepatitis C virus and are associated with several clinical conditions related to immune dysfunction and ageing. We report for the first time an expansion of CD8+CD57+ T cells in a young patient with an acute infection with Toxoplasma gondii. Our report supports the concept that CD8+CD57+ T cells could be important in the control of chronic phase of intracellular microorganisms and that the high numbers of these cells may reflect the continuing survey of the immune system, searching for parasite proliferation in the tissues.