Human γ/δ T-cell lines derived from airway biopsies

Abstract

γ/δ T cells have been postulated to play an important role in the immune response at epithelial boundaries, but have not been well described in human lung tissue. We have identified and characterized γ/δ T-cell lines from human airway biopsies and compared them with T-cell lines from paired peripheral blood samples. Airway-derived T-cell lines stimulated with tetanus toxoid (TT) contained a greater proportion of γ/δ T cells compared with T-cell lines stimulated with mitogens, other antigens, or without antigen. TT-stimulated airway T cells expressed different T-cell receptors (TCRs) than did blood-derived T cells, and used predominately variable region (V)γI family genes rather than VγII family genes. Airway-derived γ/δ T cells produced high levels of interferon-γ and were associated with T helper 1-like cytokine profiles. This study describes the presence and antigen-dependent proliferation of γ/δ T cells from human airway tissue, and demonstrates differences in lung-derived γ/δ TCRs compared with γ/δ T cells derived from peripheral blood. The data suggest that γ/δ T cells may be functionally enriched in human airways relative to peripheral blood.