The plasticity of gamma delta T cells: innate immunity, antigen presentation and new immunotherapy

Cell Mol Immunol. 2008 Jun;5(3):161-70. doi: 10.1038/cmi.2008.20.

Abstract

Several signals influence dendritic cell (DC) functions and consequent the immune responses to infectious pathogens. Our recent findings provide a new model of intervention on DCs implicating human gammadelta T cell stimuli. Vgamma9Vdelta2 T cells represent the major subset of circulating human gammadelta T cells and can be activated by non-peptidic molecules derived from different microorganisms or abnormal metabolic routes. With activated-Vgamma9Vdelta2 T cell co-culture, immature DCs acquire features of mature DCs, such as increasing the migratory activity, up-regulating the chemokine receptors, and triggering the Th1 immune response. Similar to the NK-derived signals, DC activation is mediated by soluble factors as well as cell-to-cell contact. Many non-peptidic molecules including nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates and pyrophosphomonoester drugs, can stimulate the activity of Vgamma9Vdelta2 T cells in vitro and in vivo. The relatively low in vivo toxicity of many of these drugs makes possible novel vaccine and immune-based strategies against infectious diseases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigen Presentation*
  • Cell Communication
  • Cytokines / immunology
  • Cytokines / metabolism*
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology*
  • Dendritic Cells / metabolism
  • Dendritic Cells / microbiology
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Innate*
  • Immunotherapy*
  • Lymphocyte Activation
  • Mycobacterium bovis / immunology
  • Mycobacterium bovis / physiology
  • Neoplasms / immunology
  • Neoplasms / therapy
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / immunology*
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / metabolism
  • Tuberculosis / immunology
  • Tuberculosis / therapy

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta