A cell for the ages: Human γδ t cells across the lifespan

Abstract

The complexity of the human immune system is exacerbated by age‐related changes to immune cell functionality. Many of these age‐related effects remain undescribed or driven by mechanisms that are poorly understood. γδ T cells, while considered an adaptive subset based on immunological ontogeny, retain both innate‐like and adaptive‐like characteristics. This T cell population is small but mighty, and has been implicated in both homeostatic and disease‐induced immunity within tissues and throughout the periphery. In this review, we outline what is known about the effect of age on human peripheral γδ T cells, and call attention to areas of the field where further research is needed.