Indeed, the CD27 molecule, which is expressed on the majority of Vγ9Vδ2+ peripheral selleck chemicals llc blood lymphocytes 5, provides enhanced proliferative capacity in vitro when engaged with its natural ligand CD70. Furthermore, a soluble recombinant CD70 construct, which the authors use in lieu of the natural ligand, induces calcium signals as well as increased transcription of cell cycle-associated Cyclin D2 and anti-apoptotic Bcl2a1 genes 8. In experiments that either abrogate or restore CD27-CD70 interactions involving Vγ9Vδ2+ cells, their proliferation, cytokine production and survival are altered correspondingly 8. In particular, CD27 costimulation

of Vγ9Vδ2+ PBLs upon stimulation via the TCR with phosphoantigens 10, selectively enhances the expansion of CD27+ Vγ9Vδ2+ cells with a Th1 functional bias 8. These findings establish that CD27 can act as a coreceptor in synergy with the human γδ TCR, and suggest that CD27 engagement enables functional differentiation, both quite similar to the observations made in mice. As pointed out by the authors 8, this could be very important when trying to manipulate γδ T-cell functions for clinical immunotherapy. Certainly, the intriguing observation that JQ1 datasheet CD27 expression is linked to

functional differentiation of both murine and human γδ T cells deserves further consideration. Since engagement of CD27 leads to Th1-biased cytokine production 6, 8, CD27 seems to play a role at the end of this process; however, the type of γδ T cell that expresses this receptor might be also important. Studies in mice have suggested a correlation between γδ T-cell function and the expression of TCR-V genes or certain invariant TCRs, initially because γδ T cells expressing distinct TCRs segregate into different tissues and organs, and subsequently because adoptively transferred purified γδ T cells expressing different TCR-Vs exerted distinct effects

in various models of disease 11–14. Similarly, ex vivo and in vitro studies with TCR-V-defined human γδ T cells indicate such functional differences 15. Despite HSP90 these correlations, it is not clear whether TCR specificity provides a basis for the functional differences. Instead, as γδ T cells expressing different TCRs develop separately in ontogeny, perhaps other functionally relevant receptors follow suit. Thus, Vγ1+ γδ T cells in mice often express NK1.1 14, which is consistent with an NKT-like functional profile, and Vγ4+ cells more frequently express CD8αβ 14 along with cytolytic activity. When Ribot and colleagues 6 examined murine CD27+ γδ T cells in the spleen and lymph nodes, after in vitro culture and stimulation with PMA/ionomycin, the majority (71%) expressed Vγ1 whereas a minority (15%) expressed Vγ4.