title: A Special Connection between γδ T Cells and Natural Antibodies?
abstract: Natural antibodies (NAbs) play an important role in early host defense, autophagy and tissue remodeling, and in immune regulation. They arise spontaneously (without specific immunization), and are already present at birth. NAbs are produced by B1 B cells, MZ B cells and other B cell types. They include all major Ig subclasses but IgM antibodies are prevalent, especially early in development. NAbs may be poly-specific, recognize particular auto-antigens, or detect neo-determinants such as those exposed during apoptosis or generated by oxidation. NAbs do not require cognate T cell help but depend on soluble mediators produced by T cells. Our recent studies suggest that γδ T cells may have a special relationship with NAbs, and play a prominent role in their regulation, in part through the fine-tuning of IL-4 levels. The spontaneously activated state of these cells likely enables their cytokine production and other functions in the absence of external stimulation. Ontogenetically, the earlier arising γδ T cells are better positioned than αβ T cells to shape the developing repertoire of NAbs. Intriguingly, ligand specificities of NAbs and γδ T cell receptors appear to be overlapping, perhaps allowing γδ cognate help for certain NAb specificities. Via NAbs, γδ T cells could exert a regulatory influence on numerous processes in health and disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Research, National Jewish Health, 1400 Jackson Str., Denver, CO, 80206, USA. bornw@njhealth.org.|Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Aurora, CO, USA. bornw@njhealth.org.
authors.forename: Willi K
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Born
authors.affiliation: Joint Laboratory for Stem Cell Engineering and Technology Transfer, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yafei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
authors.forename: Wanjiang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Aurora, CO, USA.
authors.forename: Raul M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Research, National Jewish Health, 1400 Jackson Str., Denver, CO, 80206, USA.|Department of Immunology and Microbiology, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Aurora, CO, USA.
authors.forename: Rebecca L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: O'Brien
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology*; D017209:Apoptosis; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000276:immunology; D008024:Ligands; D051379:Mice; D010100:Oxygen / Q000737:chemistry; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000276:immunology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D016207:Cytokines; D008024:Ligands; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D010100:Oxygen
keywords: Immune system development; Natural antibodies; γδ T cells