Human gamma delta T cells: a lymphoid lineage cell capable of professional phagocytosis.
Professional phagocytosis in mammals is considered to be performed exclusively by myeloid cell types. In this study, we demonstrate, for the first time, that a mammalian lymphocyte subset can operate as a professional phagocyte. By using confocal microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and functional Ag presentation assays, we find that freshly isolated human peripheral blood gammadelta T cells can phagocytose Escherichia coli and 1 microm synthetic beads via Ab opsonization and CD16 (FcgammaRIII), leading to Ag processing and presentation on MHC class II. In contrast, other CD16(+) lymphocytes, i.e., CD16(+)/CD56(+) NK cells, were not capable of such functions. These findings of distinct myeloid characteristics in gammadelta T cells strongly support the suggestion that gammadelta T cells are evolutionarily ancient lymphocytes and have implications for our understanding of their role in transitional immunity and the control of infectious diseases and cancer.
Molecular Immunology Unit, University College London Institute of Child Health, London, U.K.
Yin
Y
Wu
Wutian
W
Wu
Wai Man
WM
Wong
Eliot
E
Ward
Adrian J
AJ
Thrasher
David
D
Goldblatt
Mohamed
M
Osman
Paul
P
Digard
David H
DH
Canaday
Kenth
K
Gustafsson
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D017951:Antigen Presentation / Q000276:immunology; D002460:Cell Line; D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D019070:Cell Lineage / Q000276:immunology; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000276:immunology; D015234:HLA-A Antigens / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D008863:Microspheres; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009895:Opsonin Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000276:immunology*; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000502:physiology; D017452:Receptors, IgG / Q000502:physiology; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
D015234:HLA-A Antigens; D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains; C487961:HLA-DRB1*01:01 antigen; C488936:M1 protein, Influenza A virus; D009895:Opsonin Proteins; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta; D017452:Receptors, IgG; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins