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Visualizing the Early Stages of Phagocytosis
08:04

Visualizing the Early Stages of Phagocytosis

Published on: February 3, 2017

Human gamma delta T cells: a lymphoid lineage cell capable of professional phagocytosis

Yin Wu1, Wutian Wu, Wai Man Wong

  • 1Molecular Immunology Unit, University College London Institute of Child Health, London, U.K.

Journal of Immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950)
|October 22, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Mammalian lymphocytes, specifically gamma-delta T cells, can act as professional phagocytes, engulfing bacteria and synthetic beads. This discovery challenges the exclusive role of myeloid cells in phagocytosis and offers new insights into immune responses.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Professional phagocytosis in mammals has historically been attributed exclusively to myeloid cell lineages.
  • The cellular mechanisms and immune roles of lymphocyte subsets are continually being elucidated.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the phagocytic capabilities of mammalian lymphocyte subsets.
  • To determine if gamma-delta T cells exhibit professional phagocyte functions.

Main Methods:

  • Confocal and transmission electron microscopy were employed to visualize cellular interactions.
  • Functional antigen presentation assays were conducted.
  • Phagocytosis assays utilized Escherichia coli and synthetic beads with antibody opsonization.

Main Results:

  • Freshly isolated human peripheral blood gamma-delta T cells demonstrated the ability to phagocytose bacteria and synthetic beads.
  • Phagocytosis was mediated via antibody opsonization and CD16 (FcgammaRIII) engagement.
  • Engulfed antigens were processed and presented on MHC class II molecules by gamma-delta T cells.
  • CD16(+) Natural Killer (NK) cells did not exhibit these phagocytic functions.

Conclusions:

  • Mammalian gamma-delta T cells possess professional phagocytic capabilities, previously thought to be exclusive to myeloid cells.
  • These findings suggest gamma-delta T cells are evolutionarily ancient lymphocytes with significant roles in innate and adaptive immunity.
  • The study has implications for understanding transitional immunity, infectious disease control, and cancer immunosurveillance.

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