[gamma][delta] T CELLS: FUNCTIONAL PLASTICITY AND HETEROGENEITY

Gammadelta T cells remain an enigma. They are capable of generating more unique antigen receptors than alphabeta T cells and B cells combined, yet their repertoire of antigen receptors is dominated by specific subsets that recognize a limited number of antigens. A variety of sometimes conflicting ef...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inNature reviews. Immunology Vol. 2; no. 5; p. 336
Main Authors Carding, Simon R, Egan, Paul J
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published London Nature Publishing Group 01.05.2002
Subjects
Antigens
Autoimmune diseases
Cells
Heterogeneity
Immune response
Lymphocytes
Proteins
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Summary:Gammadelta T cells remain an enigma. They are capable of generating more unique antigen receptors than alphabeta T cells and B cells combined, yet their repertoire of antigen receptors is dominated by specific subsets that recognize a limited number of antigens. A variety of sometimes conflicting effector functions have been ascribed to them, yet their biological function(s) remains unclear. On the basis of studies of gammadelta T cells in infectious and autoimmune diseases, we argue that gammadelta T cells perform different functions according to their tissue distribution, antigen-receptor structure and local microenvironment; we also discuss how and at what stage of the immune response they become activated.
ISSN:1474-1733
1474-1741
DOI:10.1038/nri797