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Reaching maturity: Thymic γδ T cell differentiation in mice and humans
Rúben G R Pinheiro1, Bruno Silva-Santos1,2
1Gulbenkian Institute for Molecular Medicine, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal.
γδ T cells are promising players in immunotherapy because of pleiotropic functions, many of which can be preprogrammed in the thymus. Here, we review the cellular and molecular mechanisms that underlie γδ T cell development in the mouse and human thymi, focusing on their acquisition of diverse cytotoxic or cytokine-secreting functions and their dependence on interactions with the specialized thymic epithelium. We discuss the most recent findings and models that inform our understanding of γδ T cell differentiation and may affect the development of γδ T cell-based immunotherapies.
γδ T cells are promising players in immunotherapy because of pleiotropic functions, many of which can be preprogrammed in the thymus. Here, we review the cellular and molecular mechanisms that underlie γδ T cell development in the mouse and human thymi, focusing on their acquisition of diverse cytotoxic or cytokine-secreting functions and their dependence on interactions with the specialized thymic epithelium. We discuss the most recent findings and models that inform our understanding of γδ T cell differentiation and may affect the development of γδ T cell-based immunotherapies.
