In Vitro Expansion of Vδ1+ T Cells from Cord Blood by Using Artificial Antigen-Presenting Cells and Anti-CD3 Antibody

Advancements in γδT cell engineering: paving the way for enhanced cancer immunotherapy

Comprising only 1-10% of the circulating T cell population, γδT cells play a pivotal role in cancer immunotherapy due to their unique amalgamation of innate and adaptive immune features. These cells can secrete cytokines, including interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and can directly eliminate tumor cells through mechanisms like Fas/FasL and antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC). Unlike conventional αβT cells, γδT cells can target a wide variety of cancer cells independently of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) presentation and function as antigen-presenting cells (APCs). Their ability of recognizing antigens in a non-MHC restricted manner makes them an ideal candidate for allogeneic immunotherapy. Additionally, γδT cells exhibit specific tissue tropism, and rapid responsiveness upon reaching cellular targets, indicating a high level of cellular precision and adaptability. Despite these capabilities, the therapeutic potential of γδT cells has been hindered by some limitations, including their restricted abundance, unsatisfactory expansion, limited persistence, and complex biology and plasticity. To address these issues, gene-engineering strategies like the use of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T therapy, T cell receptor (TCR) gene transfer, and the combination with γδT cell engagers are being explored. This review will outline the progress in various engineering strategies, discuss their implications and challenges that lie ahead, and the future directions for engineered γδT cells in both monotherapy and combination immunotherapy.

Expansion and Polarization of Human γδT17 Cells in vitro from Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells

γδ T cells play a critical role in homeostasis and diseases such as infectious diseases and tumors in both mice and humans. They can be categorized into two main functional subsets: IFN-γ-producing γδT1 cells and IL-17-producing γδT17 cells. While CD27 expression segregates these two subsets in mice, little is known about human γδT17 cell differentiation and expansion. Previous studies have identified γδT17 cells in human skin and mucosal tissues, including the oral cavity and colon. However, human γδ T cells from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) primarily produce IFN-γ. In this protocol, we describe a method for in vitro expansion and polarization of human γδT17 cells from PBMCs. Key Features • Expansion of γδ T cells from peripheral blood mononuclear cells. • Human IL-17A-producing γδ T-cell differentiation and expansion using IL-7 and anti-γδTCR. • Analysis of IL-17A production post γδ T-cell expansion. This protocol is used in: Science Advances (2022), DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abm9120.