What really happens to dendritic cells during malaria?

The functions of dendritic cells during malaria have been the subject of intensive investigations, the results of which have been controversial. Here, Michelle Wykes and Michael Good propose that the species and strain of Plasmodium are some of the key factors that affect dendritic cell function. As dendritic cells (DCs) initiate all adaptive and some innate immune responses, it is not surprising that DC function during malaria is the subject of intensive investigations. However, the results of these investigations have so far been controversial. Here, we discuss various aspects of these studies, including the influence of the species and strain of Plasmodium on DC function, the effects of Plasmodium infection on the activation of CD8 + T cells by DCs, the effects of haemozoin and the effects of Plasmodium infections on DC Toll-like-receptor signalling.