Characterization of the γδ T-cell compartment during infancy reveals clear differences between the early neonatal period and 2 years of age

Abstract

γδ T cells are unconventional T cells that function on the border of innate and adaptive immunity. They are suggested to play important roles in neonatal and infant immunity, although their phenotype and function are not fully characterized in early childhood. We aimed to investigate γδ T cells in relation to age, prematurity and cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. Therefore, we used flow cytometry to characterize the γδ T-cell compartment in cord blood and peripheral blood cells from 14-day-, 2-year- and 5-year-old children, as well as in peripheral blood samples collected at several time points during the first months of life from extremely premature neonates. γδ T cells were phenotypically similar at 2 and 5 years of age, whereas cord blood was divergent and showed close proximity to γδ T cells from 14-day-old neonates. Interestingly, 2-year-old children and adults showed comparable Vδ2⁺ γδ T-cell functionality toward both microbial and polyclonal stimulations. Importantly, extreme preterm birth compromised the frequencies of Vδ1⁺ cells and affected the functionality of Vδ2⁺ γδ T cells shortly after birth. In addition, CMV infection was associated with terminal differentiation of the Vδ1⁺ compartment at 2 years of age. Our results show an adult-like functionality of the γδ T-cell compartment already at 2 years of age. In addition, we demonstrate an altered γδ T-cell phenotype early after birth in extremely premature neonates, something which could possible contribute to the enhanced risk for infections in this vulnerable group of children.

Keywords: CMV; childhood immunity; cord blood; neonatal immunity; prematurity; γδ T cells.