γδ T cells: Beyond being simple actors in allergic disease

Allergic diseases including asthma, allergic rhinitis, food allergies, and atopic dermatitis arise from an overactive immune response following exposure to allergens. The increasing prevalence of these conditions highlights the urgent need to deepen our understanding of their underlying mechanisms to develop more effective therapeutic strategies. Recent studies have shed light on the role of γδ (γδ) T cells in allergic diseases, emphasizing their complex and context-dependent functions. Depending on the microenvironment, γδ T cells can either exacerbate or mitigate allergic inflammation, a duality attributed to the specific γδ T cell subsets involved. Although immunotherapies targeting γδ T cells have made significant advances in the field of cancer treatment, their application to allergic diseases remains in its early stages. Nevertheless, certain subsets of γδ T cells exhibit promising Type 2 helper (Th2) T lymphocytes-suppressing capabilities, which could help restore the immune balance that is disrupted in Th2-polarized allergic responses. This potential suggests that γδ T cell-based therapies could represent a viable approach for modulating immune responses in allergic diseases, offering new avenues for treatment where conventional therapies have fallen short. Future research is needed to further elucidate the therapeutic potential of γδ T cells in allergy management and to optimize their application as a novel immunotherapeutic strategy.