Resident pulmonary lymphocytes expressing the γ/δ T-cell receptor (original) (raw)

Nature volume 340, pages 239–241 (1989) Cite this article

Abstract

THE biological role of cells bearing the _γδ_S T-cell antigen receptor (TCR) is as yet unclear1-3. Although there are indications that some γδ+ cells can mediate cytotoxicity4-7, their antigen-related functions have not yet been defined. In the mouse, γδ+ ceils constitute 1–3% of T cells in lymphoid organs8,9. Intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes (lELs) and dendritic epidermal cells (DECs) also appear to carry the γδ TCR6,10-13. The strategic locations of DECs and lELs have led to the suggestion that γδ+ cells could constitute a first line of defence in the vicinity of large surfaces of contact with the environment14. We report here that an estimated 8–20% of resident pulmonary lymphocytes (RPLs) are CD3+αβ TCR−, and presumably γδ TCR+. Furthermore, mice exposed to aerosols containing a Mycobacterium tuberculosis extract have an increased number of activated CD3+_αβ_-TCR− pulmonary T cells which can be propagated in vitro.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, National Jewish Center for Immunology and Respiratory Medicine, Denver, Colorado, 80206, USA
    Andrei Augustin, Ralph T. Kubo & Gek-Kee Sim
  2. Department of Microbiology and Immunology,
    Andrei Augustin & Ralph T. Kubo
  3. Department of Pathology, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, Colorado, 80262, USA
    Gek-Kee Sim
  4. Basel Institute for Immunology, Grenzacherstrasse 487, CH-4005, Basel, Switzerland
    Gek-Kee Sim

Authors

  1. Andrei Augustin
  2. Ralph T. Kubo
  3. Gek-Kee Sim

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Augustin, A., Kubo, R. & Sim, GK. Resident pulmonary lymphocytes expressing the γ/δ T-cell receptor.Nature 340, 239–241 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1038/340239a0

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