title: γδ T cells develop, respond and survive - with a little help from CD27.
abstract: Although the TNF receptor family member CD27 has been known for some time, its functional role as a coreceptor on T and B cells remains poorly understood. Recent reports have shown that CD27 and its ligand CD70 play a critical role in the development and function of γδ T cells in mice. In this issue of the European Journal of Immunology, a study now extends these findings to the Vγ9Vδ2(+) subset of human γδ T cells. This subset, whose responses are readily elicited by phosphoantigens, plays an important role in anti-tumor immune responses. This study shows that most Vγ9Vδ2(+) cells express CD27, and signaling via the CD27-CD70 axis is needed for their survival, proliferation and cytokine secretion. Moreover, CD27 functions as a coreceptor, which promotes, in conjunction with TCR-mediated signals, expansion of Th1-biased Vγ9Vδ2(+) cells. This new information underscores the significance of CD27 in γδ T-cell functional differentiation, and is likely to facilitate the development of γδ T-cell-based clinical immunotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Integrated Department of Immunology, National Jewish Health and University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, CO 80206, USA. bornw@njhealth.org
authors.forename: Willi K
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Born
authors.forename: Rebecca L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: O'Brien
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000276:immunology; D053282:CD27 Ligand / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000276:immunology; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000276:immunology*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D018127:Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 7 / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D053282:CD27 Ligand; D016207:Cytokines; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta; D018127:Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 7