Regulation of acquired immunity by gamma delta T-cell/dendritic-cell interactions

Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2005 Dec:1062:79-94. doi: 10.1196/annals.1358.011.

Abstract

In humans, innate immune recognition of mycobacteria, including Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium leprae, involves toll-like receptor-2 (TLR-2), expressed on immature dendritic cells (DCs), and the T-cell gammadelta receptor expressed by a subpopulation of T cells that utilize Vdelta2 (Vdelta2 T cells). To investigate modulatory relationships between these host-cell populations in a microbial context, in vitro experiments were performed with human DCs and Vdelta2 T cells stimulated with model TLR-2 ligands and phosphoantigens, respectively. We observed that TLR-2-stimulated DCs enhanced interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) production by Vdelta2 T cells; conversely, activated Vdelta2 T cells enhanced TLR-2-induced DC maturation via soluble factors including IFN-gamma, which costimulated interleukin-12 (IL-12) p70 secretion by DCs. Exposure of DCs to activated Vdelta2 T cells was critical for Th1 T-cell priming when TLR-2 stimulation was limiting. These results suggest that Vdelta2 T cells may play an adjuvant role in priming protective antimycobacterial immunity when TLR-2 stimulation is lacking, as may occur if the infectious inoculum is small, or if the pathogen is an intrinsically weak activator of DCs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cell Communication / immunology*
  • Cell Differentiation / immunology
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Coculture Techniques
  • Dendritic Cells / cytology
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology*
  • Dendritic Cells / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Active*
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology
  • Mycobacterium leprae / immunology
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / immunology
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / immunology
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / metabolism*
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / metabolism*
  • Toll-Like Receptor 2 / immunology
  • Toll-Like Receptor 2 / metabolism
  • Toll-Like Receptor 2 / physiology

Substances

  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta
  • TLR2 protein, human
  • Toll-Like Receptor 2