title: Gamma/delta T lymphocytes in viral infections.
abstract: T lymphocyte progenitors differentiate into two distinct T cell lineages. Although the alpha beta and gamma delta T cell lineages resemble each other phenotypically and functionally, there are some striking differences. Some gamma delta T cells recognize, similarly to alpha beta T cells, peptides presented by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) proteins or MHC-like molecules. However, there are gamma delta T cells that recognize MHC molecules in a fundamentally different manner in comparison with alpha beta T cells. Also in contrast recognizing nonpeptide antigens. Most responses of gamma delta T cells appear to be directed against microbial pathogenic agents including bacteria, parasites, and viruses. In particular, the potent cytotoxic responses of gamma delta T cells against cells infected with, for example, herpesviruses or lentiviruses may be essential for the overall antiviral defense of vertebrates. The analysis of antiviral immunosurveillance by gamma delta T cells is crucial for understanding the unique biological role of this lymphocyte subset.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison 53706, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wallace
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Malkovsky
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Carding
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003384:Coxsackievirus Infections / Q000276:immunology; D029822:Enterovirus B, Human; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D010222:Parainfluenza Virus 1, Human; D018184:Paramyxoviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000502:physiology*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000502:physiology*; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta