Repertoire Development and the Control of Cytotoxic/Effector Function in Human γδ T Cells. (13th April 2010)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Urban, Elizabeth M.; Chapoval, Andrei I.; Pauza, C. David
• Other Names: Shevach Ethan Academic Editor.
• Is Part Of: Clinical & developmental immunology. Volume 2010(2010)
• Publication Date: 2010-04-13
• Subjects: Developmental immunology -- Periodicals; Clinical immunology -- Periodicals; Immune System -- immunology -- Periodicals; Immune System -- growth & development -- Periodicals; Immune System Diseases -- immunology -- Periodicals; 571.9638
• DOI: 10.1155/2010/732893
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1740-2522

Abstract

Abstract : T cells develop into two major populations distinguished by their T cell receptor (TCR) chains. Cells with the α β TCR generally express CD4 or CD8 lineage markers and mostly fall into helper or cytotoxic/effector subsets. Cells expressing the alternate γ δ TCR in humans generally do not express lineage markers, do not require MHC for antigen presentation, and recognize nonpeptidic antigens. We are interested in the dominant Vγ 2Vδ 2+ T cell subset in human peripheral blood and the control of effector function in this population. We review the literature on γ δ T cell generation and repertoire selection, along with recent work on CD56 expression and defining a cytotoxic/effector lineage within the phosphoantigen-reactive Vγ 2Vδ 2 cells. A unique mechanism for MHC-independent repertoire selection is linked to the control of effector function that is vital to the role for γ δ T cells in tumor surveillance. Better understanding of these mechanisms will improve our ability to exploit this population for tumor immunotherapy.