Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 10, 2026

Measuring Mitochondrial Function of Naïve and Effector CD8 T Cells
Published on: March 28, 2025
Mitochondrial damage-associated molecular patterns activate γδ T-cells
Martin G Schwacha1, Meenakshi Rani, Qiong Zhang
11Department of Surgery, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA.
Mitochondrial danger-associated molecular patterns (MTDs) activate gamma delta T-cells, initiating sterile inflammation. This response, independent of infection, involves increased Toll-like receptor expression and cytokine production, contributing to healing.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
- Inflammation Research
Background:
- Gamma delta T-cells are crucial in early inflammatory responses to injury.
- Sterile inflammation is linked to danger-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs).
- Mitochondrial DAMPs (MTDs) are known to activate neutrophils but their effect on γδ T-cells is unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if MTDs can activate γδ T-cells.
- To determine the impact of MTDs on γδ T-cell phenotype and cytokine production.
Main Methods:
- Isolation of splenic γδ T-cells from mice lacking αβ T-cells.
- Isolation of MTDs from mouse liver mitochondria.
- Incubation of γδ T-cells with varying MTD concentrations.
- Flow cytometry for Toll-like receptor (TLR) expression analysis.
- Cytokine and growth factor assays on cell supernatants.
Main Results:
- MTDs induced a dose-dependent increase in TLR2 and TLR4 expression on γδ T-cells.
- Both the percentage of TLR-positive cells and the expression levels increased.
- MTDs stimulated the production of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, RANTES, FGF-basic, and VEGF by γδ T-cells.
Conclusions:
- MTDs released during tissue injury activate γδ T-cells.
- This activation initiates sterile inflammation.
- Activated γδ T-cells contribute to subsequent healing processes.
Related Concept Videos
Cytotoxic T Cells-mediated Immune Response
Immunological surveillance is the ability of immune cells to monitor and eliminate infected cells with intracellular pathogens, neoplastically transformed cells, and cells with non-self antigens. Cytotoxic T cells and NK...
T Cell Activation and Clonal Selection
Naive T cells that have not yet encountered an antigen express two primary CD...
MAPK Signaling Cascades
Mitochondrial Membranes
Antigens Involved in Adaptive Immunity
Complete Antigens
Complete antigens possess both immunogenicity and reactivity.
The Extrinsic Apoptotic Pathway

