Regulatory and effector functions of gamma–delta (γδ) T cells and their therapeutic potential in adoptive cellular therapy for cancer. Issue 5 (15th April 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Paul, Sourav; Lal, Girdhari
• Is Part Of: International journal of cancer. Volume 139:Issue 5(2016:Sep. 01)
• Page Start: 976
• Page End: 985
• Publication Date: 2016-04-15
• Subjects: Gamma–delta T cells -- tumor microenvironment -- inflammation -- tolerance; Cancer -- Periodicals; Cancer -- Prevention -- Periodicals; 616.994
• DOI: 10.1002/ijc.30109
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0020-7136

Abstract

Abstract : γδ T cells are an important innate immune component of the tumor microenvironment and are known to affect the immune response in a wide variety of tumors. Unlike αβ T cells, γδ T cells are capable of spontaneous secretion of IL‐17A and IFN‐γ without undergoing clonal expansion. Although γδ T cells do not require self‐MHC‐restricted priming, they can distinguish "foreign" or transformed cells from healthy self‐cells by using activating and inhibitory killer Ig‐like receptors. γδ T cells were used in several clinical trials to treat cancer patient due to their MHC‐unrestricted cytotoxicity, ability to distinguish transformed cells from normal cells, the capacity to secrete inflammatory cytokines and also their ability to enhance the generation of antigen‐specific CD8 + and CD4 + T cell response. In this review, we discuss the effector and regulatory function of γδ T cells in the tumor microenvironment with special emphasis on the potential for their use in adoptive cellular immunotherapy.