γδ T Cells Protect the Liver and Lungs of Mice from Autoimmunity Induced by Scurfy Lymphocytes

J Immunol. 2016 Feb 15;196(4):1517-28. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1501774. Epub 2016 Jan 15.

Abstract

γδ T cells have been shown to have immunoregulatory functions in several experimental autoimmune models. A mutation of the Foxp3 gene leads to the absence of regulatory T cells (Tregs) and a fatal systemic autoimmune disease in scurfy mice. Transfer of scurfy lymphocytes to RAG deficient (RAG(-/-)) recipients reproduces the inflammatory phenotype of the scurfy donor, including hepatitis and pneumonitis. In this study, we show that TCRα(-/-) recipients, which lack αβ T cells but have γδ T cells and B cells, are significantly protected from the hepatitis and pneumonitis, but not the dermatitis, induced by adoptive transfer of scurfy lymphocytes. Cotransfer of γδ T cells, but not B cells, prevented hepatitis and pneumonitis in RAG(-/-) recipients of scurfy lymphocytes. γδ T cells in the TCRα(-/-) recipients of scurfy cells markedly expanded and expressed a highly activated (CD62L(lo)CD44(hi)) phenotype. The activated γδ T cells expressed high levels of CD39 and NKG2D on their cell surface. A high frequency of scurfy T cells in TCRα(-/-) recipients produced IL-10, suggesting that γδ T cells may enhance suppressor cytokine production from scurfy T cells in TCRα(-/-) recipients. This study indicates that γδ T cells may contribute to the maintenance of immunological homeostasis by suppressing autoreactive T cells in liver and lung.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adoptive Transfer
  • Animals
  • Antigens, CD / genetics
  • Apyrase / genetics
  • Autoimmune Diseases / immunology
  • Autoimmune Diseases / prevention & control*
  • Autoimmunity*
  • Dermatitis / immunology
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / immunology
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Hepatitis / immunology
  • Hepatitis / prevention & control
  • Homeostasis
  • Interleukin-10 / biosynthesis
  • Liver / immunology*
  • Lung / immunology*
  • Lymphocyte Activation
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily K / genetics
  • Pneumonia / immunology
  • Pneumonia / prevention & control
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / immunology
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / immunology*

Substances

  • Antigens, CD
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors
  • Foxp3 protein, mouse
  • NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily K
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta
  • Interleukin-10
  • Apyrase
  • CD39 antigen