Development and function of γδ T cells

While the function of αβ T cells in host defense is quite well understood, insight into the role that γδ T cells play in health and disease has lagged behind, despite their discovery approximately forty years ago. Because γδ T cells represent a relatively small population in immune organs, their importance in host defense was previously questioned, which dampened research interest in γδ T cells, even among immunologists. Fortunately, there has been a relatively recent surge in interest in γδ T cells, which has revealed that they do in fact play a central role in human health and disease. They perform diverse functions that impact tissue homeostasis and integrity in addition to their role in pathogen resistance, which positions them at the interface between the innate and adaptive arms of the immune system. Here, we review the progress in understanding how γδ T cells can both promote health and cause disease, and how they are being exploited as a new and perhaps more effective weapon in the treatment of cancer.