title: Phenotypic and functional characterization of human γδ T-cell subsets in response to influenza A viruses.
abstract: Like αβ T cells, human γδ T cells also have different subsets with distinct characteristics. Whether human Vγ9Vδ2 T cells have functionally different subsets in response to influenza A (fluA) viruses remains unknown. In this study, we show for the first time that both central (CD45RA(-)CD27(+)) and effector (CD45RA(-)CD27(-)) memory Vγ9Vδ2 T cells have similar levels of immediate interferon (IFN) γ and cytotoxic responses to human and avian fluA virus-infected cells. In contrast, CD56(+) Vγ9Vδ2 T cells have significantly higher cytotoxicity against fluA virus-infected cells compared with their CD56(-) counterparts, whereas both subsets have similar IFN-γ responses. We further demonstrate that the CD16-dependent degranulation pathway, but not antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity, contribute to the superior cytotoxicity of CD56(+) Vγ9Vδ2 T cells. Our study provides further evidence for the phenotypic and functional characterization of human Vγ9Vδ2 T-cell subsets during fluA virus infection and may help improve the γδ T-cell-based immunotherapy for viral infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: Yinping
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Zheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Xiang
authors.forename: Iris H Y
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Malik Peiris
authors.forename: Yu-Lung
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: Wenwei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tu
mesh_terms: D019002:CD56 Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D015550:Cell Degranulation / Q000276:immunology; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D009980:Influenza A virus / Q000276:immunology*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D017452:Receptors, IgG / Q000032:analysis; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D013602:T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / Q000276:immunology; D018127:Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 7 / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D019002:CD56 Antigen; C428200:FCGR3B protein, human; D058851:GPI-Linked Proteins; C522918:NCAM1 protein, human; D017452:Receptors, IgG; D018127:Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Superfamily, Member 7; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens