Antigen-specific Vgamma2Vdelta2 T effector cells confer homeostatic protection against pneumonic plaque lesions

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2009 May 5;106(18):7553-8. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0811250106. Epub 2009 Apr 21.

Abstract

The possibility that Vgamma2Vdelta2 T effector cells can confer protection against pulmonary infectious diseases has not been tested. We have recently demonstrated that single-dose (E)-4-hydroxy-3-methyl-but-2-enyl pyrophosphate (HMBPP) plus IL-2 treatment can induce prolonged accumulation of Vgamma2Vdelta2 T effector cells in lungs. Here, we show that a delayed HMBPP/IL-2 administration after inhalational Yersinia pestis infection induced marked expansion of Vgamma2Vdelta2 T cells but failed to control extracellular plague bacterial replication/infection. Surprisingly, despite the absence of infection control, expansion of Vgamma2Vdelta2 T cells after HMBPP/IL-2 treatment led to the attenuation of inhalation plague lesions in lungs. Consistently, HMBPP-activated Vgamma2Vdelta2 T cells accumulated and localized in pulmonary interstitials surrounding small blood vessels and airway mucosa in the lung tissues with no or mild plague lesions. These infiltrating Vgamma2Vdelta2 T cells produced FGF-7, a homeostatic mediator against tissue damages. In contrast, control macaques treated with glucose plus IL-2 or glucose alone exhibited severe hemorrhages and necrosis in most lung lobes, with no or very few Vgamma2Vdelta2 T cells detectable in lung tissues. The findings are consist with the paradigm that circulating Vgamma2Vdelta2 T cells can traffic to lungs for homeostatic protection against tissue damages in infection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Movement
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Fibroblast Growth Factor 7 / biosynthesis
  • Homeostasis
  • Interleukin-2 / administration & dosage*
  • Lung / immunology*
  • Lung / microbiology
  • Lung / pathology
  • Macaca
  • Organophosphates / administration & dosage*
  • Plague / immunology*
  • Plague / pathology
  • Pneumonia, Bacterial / immunology*
  • Pneumonia, Bacterial / pathology
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / immunology*
  • Respiratory Mucosa / immunology
  • Respiratory Mucosa / microbiology
  • Respiratory Mucosa / pathology
  • T-Lymphocytes / drug effects*
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Yersinia pestis*

Substances

  • 4-hydroxy-3-methyl-2-butenyl diphosphate
  • Interleukin-2
  • Organophosphates
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta
  • Fibroblast Growth Factor 7