title: γδ T cells recognize a microbial encoded B cell antigen to initiate a rapid antigen-specific interleukin-17 response.
abstract: γδ T cells contribute uniquely to immune competence. Nevertheless, how they function remains an enigma. It is unclear what most γδ T cells recognize, what is required for them to mount an immune response, and how the γδ T cell response is integrated into host immune defense. Here, we report that a noted B cell antigen, the algae protein phycoerythrin (PE), is a murine and human γδ T cell antigen. Employing this specificity, we demonstrated that antigen recognition activated naive γδ T cells to make interleukin-17 and respond to cytokine signals that perpetuate the response. High frequencies of antigen-specific γδ T cells in naive animals and their ability to mount effector response without extensive clonal expansion allow γδ T cells to initiate a swift, substantial response. These results underscore the adaptability of lymphocyte antigen receptors and suggest an antigen-driven rapid response in protective immunity prior to the maturation of classical adaptive immunity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
authors.forename: Xun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Yu-Ling
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Evan W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Newell
authors.forename: Hongxiang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Brian A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Kidd
authors.forename: Michael S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Kuhns
authors.forename: Ray W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Waters
authors.forename: Mark M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Casey T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Weaver
authors.forename: Yueh-hsiu
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Chien
mesh_terms: D020418:Algal Proteins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites / Q000235:genetics; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D016688:Mice, Inbred NOD; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D010799:Phycoerythrin / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000276:immunology; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D020418:Algal Proteins; D000941:Antigens; D020381:Interleukin-17; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta; D010799:Phycoerythrin