Self-recognition of CD1 by gamma/delta T cells: implications for innate immunity.
The specificity of immunoglobulins and alpha/beta T cell receptors (TCRs) provides a framework for the molecular basis of antigen recognition. Yet, evolution has preserved a separate lineage of gamma/delta antigen receptors that share characteristics of both immunoglobulins and alpha/beta TCRs but whose antigens remain poorly understood. We now show that T cells of the major tissue gamma/delta T cell subset recognize nonpolymorphic CD1c molecules. These T cells proliferated in response to CD1+ presenter cells, lysed CD1c+ targets, and released T helper type 1 (Th1) cytokines. The CD1c-reactive gamma/delta T cells were cytotoxic and used both perforin- and Fas-mediated cytotoxicity. Moreover, they produced granulysin, an important antimicrobial protein. Recognition of CD1c was TCR mediated, as recognition was transferred by transfection of the gamma/delta TCR. Importantly, all CD1c-reactive gamma/delta T cells express V delta 1 TCRs, the TCR expressed by most tissue gamma/delta T cells. Recognition by this tissue pool of gamma/delta T cells provides the human immune system with the capacity to respond rapidly to nonpolymorphic molecules on professional antigen presenting cells (APCs) in the absence of foreign antigens that may activate or eliminate the APCs. The presence of bactericidal granulysin suggests these cells may directly mediate host defense even before foreign antigen-specific T cells have differentiated.
Spada
F M
FM
Division of Rheumatology, Immunology, and Allergy, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital at Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
Grant
E P
EP
Peters
P J
PJ
Sugita
M
M
Melián
A
A
Leslie
D S
DS
Lee
H K
HK
van Donselaar
E
E
Hanson
D A
DA
Krensky
A M
AM
Majdic
O
O
Porcelli
S A
SA
Morita
C T
CT
Brenner
M B
MB
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D000938:Antigen-Presenting Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D018949:Antigens, CD1 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000096:biosynthesis; D001483:Base Sequence; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology; D002460:Cell Line; D003601:Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; D016694:Gene Rearrangement, delta-Chain T-Cell Antigen Receptor; D015334:Gene Rearrangement, gamma-Chain T-Cell Antigen Receptor; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000502:physiology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D054353:Perforin; D052899:Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000502:physiology
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D018949:Antigens, CD1; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; C075005:GNLY protein, human; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D052899:Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta; D019014:fas Receptor; D054353:Perforin