title: Mechanisms underlying lineage commitment and plasticity of human γδ T cells.
abstract: Phenotypic and functional heterogeneity are the hallmarks of effector and memory T cells. Upon antigen stimulation, γδ T cells differentiate into two major types of memory T cells: central memory cells, which patrol the blood and secondary lymphoid organs, and effector memory cells, which migrate to peripheral tissues. γδ T cells display in vitro a certain degree of plasticity in their function that is reminiscent of that which is observed in conventional CD4 T cells. Similar to CD4 T cells, in which a plethora of specialized subsets affect the host response, γδ T cells may readily and rapidly assume distinct Th1-, Th2-, Th17-, T(FH) and T regulatory-like effector functions, suggesting that they profoundly influence cell-mediated and humoral immune responses. In addition to differences in cytokine repertoire, γδ T cells exhibit diversity in homing, such as migration to lymph node follicles, to help B cells versus migration to inflamed tissues. Here, we review our current understanding of γδ T-cell lineage heterogeneity and flexibility, with an emphasis on the human system, and propose a classification of effector γδ T cells based on distinct functional phenotypes.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Biopatologia e Biotecnologie Mediche e Forensi, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Caccamo
authors.forename: Matilde
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Todaro
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sireci
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Meraviglia
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stassi
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dieli
mesh_terms: D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000276:immunology*; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000502:physiology; D056724:Immunity, Humoral / Q000502:physiology; D007156:Immunologic Memory / Q000276:immunology; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000276:immunology*; D006377:T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / Q000276:immunology*; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta