Tumor-activated TCRγδ⁺ T cells from gastric cancer patients induce the antitumor immune response of TCRαβ⁺ T cells via their antigen-presenting cell-like effects

J Immunol Res. 2014:2014:593562. doi: 10.1155/2014/593562. Epub 2014 Mar 31.

Abstract

Human γδ T cells display the principal characteristics of professional antigen-presenting cells (APCs), in addition to playing a vital role in immunity through cytokine secretion and their cytotoxic activity. However, it is not clear whether γδ T cells perform APC-like functions under pathological conditions. In this study, we showed that, in contrast to peripheral-derived γδ T cells directly isolated from PBMCs of gastric cancer patients, tumor-activated γδ T cells not only killed tumor cells efficiently but also strongly induced primary CD4(+) and CD8(+) αβ T cells proliferation and differentiation. More importantly, they abrogated the immunosuppression induced by CD4(+)CD25(+) Treg cells and induced the cytotoxic function of CD8(+) αβ T cells from patients with gastric cancer. In conclusion, tumor-activated γδ T cells can induce adaptive immune responses through their APC-like functions, and these cells may be a potentially useful tool in the development of tumor vaccines and immunotherapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antigen Presentation / immunology
  • Antigen-Presenting Cells / immunology
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Cytotoxicity, Immunologic
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunomodulation
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / metabolism*
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / metabolism*
  • Stomach Neoplasms / immunology*
  • Stomach Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / metabolism*

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta