Heterogeneity of Human γδ T Cells and Their Role in Cancer Immunity
- Author:
Hye Won LEE
1
;
Yun Shin CHUNG
;
Tae Jin KIM
Author Information
- Publication Type:Review
- Keywords: T-lymphocyte subsets; γδ T cell; T Cell Receptors, gamma delta; Tumor microenvironment
- MeSH: Allergy and Immunology; Communicable Diseases; Cytokines; Homeostasis; Humans; Interleukin-17; Ligands; Lymphocytes; Mevalonic Acid; Plastics; Population Characteristics; Protein C; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta; Receptors, Growth Factor; T-Lymphocyte Subsets; T-Lymphocytes; Terpenes; Tumor Microenvironment
- From:Immune Network 2020;20(1):5-
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: The γδ T cells are unconventional lymphocytes that function in both innate and adaptive immune responses against various intracellular and infectious stresses. The γδ T cells can be exploited as cancer-killing effector cells since γδ TCRs recognize MHC-like molecules and growth factor receptors that are upregulated in cancer cells, and γδ T cells can differentiate into cytotoxic effector cells. However, γδ T cells may also promote tumor progression by secreting IL-17 or other cytokines. Therefore, it is essential to understand how the differentiation and homeostasis of γδ T cells are regulated and whether distinct γδ T cell subsets have different functions. Human γδ T cells are classified into Vδ2 and non-Vδ2 γδ T cells. The majority of Vδ2 γδ T cells are Vγ9δ2 T cells that recognize pyrophosphorylated isoprenoids generated by the dysregulated mevalonate pathway. In contrast, Vδ1 T cells expand from initially diverse TCR repertoire in patients with infectious diseases and cancers. The ligands of Vδ1 T cells are diverse and include the growth factor receptors such as endothelial protein C receptor. Both Vδ1 and Vδ2 γδ T cells are implicated to have immunotherapeutic potentials for cancers, but the detailed elucidation of the distinct characteristics of 2 populations will be required to enhance the immunotherapeutic potential of γδ T cells. Here, we summarize recent progress regarding cancer immunology of human γδ T cells, including their development, heterogeneity, and plasticity, the putative mechanisms underlying ligand recognition and activation, and their dual effects on tumor progression in the tumor microenvironment.
