Born WK, Kemal Aydintug M, O'Brien RL. Diversity of γδ T-cell antigens.
Cell Mol Immunol 2013;
10:13-20. [PMID:
23085946 PMCID:
PMC4003174 DOI:
10.1038/cmi.2012.45]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2012] [Accepted: 08/28/2012] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
In the last two decades, it has become clear that γδ T cells recognize a diverse array of antigens including self and foreign, large and small, and peptidic and non-peptidic molecules. In this respect, γδ antigens as a whole resemble more the antigens recognized by antibodies than those recognized by αβ T cells. Because of this antigenic diversity, no single mechanism-such as the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) restriction of αβ T cells-is likely to provide a basis for all observed T-cell antigen receptor (TCR)-dependent γδ T-cell responses. Furthermore, available evidence suggests that many individual γδ T cells are poly-specific, probably using different modes of ligand recognition in their responses to unrelated antigens. While posing a unique challenge in the maintenance of self-tolerance, this broad reactivity pattern might enable multiple overlapping uses of γδ T-cell populations, and thus generate a more efficient immune response.
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