title: Regulatory functions of γδ T cells.
abstract: γδ T cells account for approximately 5% of peripheral blood T cells but are more abundant in mucosal tissue. Based on the recognized ligands and their general lack of MHC restriction, γδ T cells are considered as unconventional T cells that link innate and adaptive immunity. γδ T cells produce a diverse range of cytokines, exert cytotoxic effector function, can act as antigen-presenting cells, and display regulatory activity. Here we review the current knowledge on the regulatory functions of murine and human γδ T cells. Some γδ T cells produce inhibitory cytokines such as transforming growth factor-β but γδ T cells can utilize additional regulatory mechanisms. By subverting regulatory T cells (Treg) through induction of Treg apoptosis or cytokine-dependent reversal of Treg activity, however, γδ T cells can also enhance effector T cell activity and thereby contribute to autoimmunity. A more precise understanding of the plasticity of regulatory γδ T cells is required to specifically identify strategies for intentional modulation of their beneficial or detrimental regulatory activity.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Immunology, University of Kiel, Germany. kabelitz@immunologie.uni-kiel.de
authors.forename: Dieter
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kabelitz
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wesch
authors.forename: Hans-Heinrich
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Oberg
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*