Mechanism of self-tolerance of γ/δ T cells in epithelial tissue

Abstract

The present study examined mechanisms of tolerance for T cell receptor γ/δ (TCR-γ/δ) cells. Using a transgenic (Tg) model, we demonstrate that although alloantigen (Ag)-specific TCR-γ/δ cells are deleted in the thymus and spleen of Ag-bearing mice, intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) expressing normal levels of the Tg TCR were present. However, Tg+ IELs from Ag-bearing mice were unresponsive to activation. Furthermore, self-reactive Tg+ IELs decreased in number over time. Thus, in epithelial tissue, Tg TCR-γ/δ cells are eliminated subsequent to and most likely as a result of the induction of clonal anergy.