gamma delta T Cells
Gamma delta T cells represent a small fraction (1 - 5 %) of the overall T cell population but are enriched (more than 50 % of the T cell population) in epithelial cell-rich compartments like skin, the digestive tract, and reproductive organ mucosa. Gamma delta T cells are a subset of T cells defined by the genetic composition of their T Cell Receptor (TCR). All T cells are derived from common progenitor thymocytes, and while the majority of T cells express TCR chain heterodimers encoded by the alpha and beta gene loci, gamma delta T cells express TCR chains encoded by the gamma and delta gene loci. Subsets of gamma delta T cells are defined by the inclusion of invariant TCR V-(D)-J segments and are tissue- or context-specific. Gamma delta T cells have been described as a link between the adaptive and innate immune responses because, while they undergo V-(D)-J segment rearrangement to generate an adaptive, antigen-specific response, they can also be directly activated via the recognition of pathogen-associated or danger-associated molecular patterns, particularly natural phospho-antigens, by either the gamma delta TCR or other, non-TCR proteins, acting independently or together to activate gamma delta T cell effector functions. Like helper T cells, gamma delta T cells secrete particular effector cytokines in a subtype-and context-specific manner, however, unlike alpha beta T cells, most delta gamma T cells lack CD4 and CD8 and share a number of markers associated with natural killer cells or antigen-presenting cells such as Fc gamma RIII/CD16 and Toll-like receptors.
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gamma delta T Cell Surface Markers
- E-Cadherin
- CCR5
- CCR6
- CD3
- CD4
- CD8
- CD27/TNFRSF7
- CD27 Ligand/TNFSF7
- CD40/TNFRSF5
- CD40 Ligand/TNFSF5
- CD83
- CD161
- CD161/NK1.1
- CXCR4
- Dectin-1/CLEC7A
- Fas/TNFRSF6/CD95
- Fas Ligand/TNFSF6
- Fc gamma RIII (CD16)
- Fc gamma RIIIA/CD16a
- Fc gamma RIIIB/CD16b
- ICOS
- IL-18 R alpha/IL-1 R5
- IL-23R
- NKG2D/CD314
- NKG2E
- Occludin
- TCR gamma/delta
- TLR2
- TRAIL/TNFSF10
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Factors Secreted by gamma delta T Cells
- CCL2/JE/MCP-1
- CXCL13/BLC/BCA-1
- beta-Defensin 2
- beta-Defensin 3
- alpha-Defensin 1
- EGF
- KGF/FGF-7
- FGF-10
- GM-CSF
- Granulysin
- Granzyme A
- Granzyme B
- Granzyme C
- IFN-gamma
- IGF-I/IGF-1
- IL-2
- IL-4
- IL-5
- IL-6
- IL-10
- IL-12
- IL-12/IL-23 p40
- IL-12 p70
- IL-13
- IL-17/IL-17A
- IL-22
- IL-6/IL-6R alpha Complex
- LAP (TGF-beta 1)
- TGF-beta
- TNF-alpha
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Transcription Factors Involved in gamma delta T Cell Development