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γδ T-APCs: a novel tool for immunotherapy?

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Abstract

The series of seminal articles in this book clearly illustrate the multi-functional nature of γδ T cells. Some of the functions correlate with the tissue tropism of distinct γδ T cell subsets whereas others appear to result from oligoclonal selection. Here, we discuss the antigen-presenting cell (APC) function of the major subset of circulating γδ T cells, Vγ9/Vδ2 T cells, present in human blood. During tissue culture, Vγ9/Vδ2 T cells uniformly respond to a class of non-peptide antigens, so-called prenyl pyrophosphates, derived from stressed host cells or from microbes. It is this feature that distinguishes human (and primate) Vγ9/Vδ2 T cells from αβ and γδ T cells of all other species and that forms the basis for detailed studies of human Vγ9/Vδ2 T cells. One of the consequences of Vγ9/Vδ2 T cell activation is the rapid acquisition of APC characteristics (γδ T-APCs) reminiscent of mature dendritic cells (DCs). In the following discussion, we will discriminate between the potential use of γδ T-APCs as a cellular vaccine in immunotherapy and their role in anti-microbial immunity. Exploiting the APC function in γδ T-APCs represents a true novelty in current immunotherapy research and may lead to effective, anti-tumor immunity in cancer patients.

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Abbreviations

APC:

Antigen-presenting cells

γδ T-APC:

Antigen-presenting γδ T cells

DC:

Dendritic cells

MHC:

Major histocompatibility complex antigen

TCR:

T cell antigen receptor

HMB-PP:

(E)-4-hydroxy-3-methyl-but-2-enyl pyrophosphate

IPP:

Isopentenyl pyrophosphate

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Acknowledgments

Research has been supported by Grants from the Swiss National Science Foundation, European FP6 (MAIN-NoE, INNOCHEM), Welsh Office for Research and Development, Wellcome Trust, Cancer Research UK, Breast Cancer Campaign, Baxter Healthcare, and Cardiff University i3-IRG. M.E. is a RCUK Fellow in Translational Research in Experimental Medicine; B.M. is the recipient of a Royal Society Wolfson Research Merit Award.

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  1. Department of Infection, Immunity & Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, UK

    Bernhard Moser & Matthias Eberl

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  1. Bernhard Moser
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Correspondence to Bernhard Moser.

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Moser, B., Eberl, M. γδ T-APCs: a novel tool for immunotherapy?. Cell. Mol. Life Sci. 68, 2443–2452 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-011-0706-6

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