γδ T cells: The potential role in liver disease and implications for cancer immunotherapy

The gamma delta T cell subset was discovered over 30 years ago, yet continues to be an exciting and challenging component of the adaptive immune response. While gamma delta T cells represent a very small fraction of all T cells in humans, gamma delta T cells have a vital effect on human immunity, serving as a bridge between the innate and adaptive immune systems. The characteristics of gamma delta T cells include recognition of non-MHC restrictive antigens, as well as the ability to secrete an abundance of cytoki nes, suggesting that gamma delta T cells have high antitumor activity. As such, they have gained ample attention with respect to tumor immunotherapy in the last decade. The gamma delta T cell subset comprises up to similar to 15-20% of the T-lymphocyte population in the liver, although the liver is recognized as an immune organ with primary immune functions, the role of gamma delta T cells in liver disease has not been established. Herein, we present a comprehensive overview of molecular mechanisms underlying immune gamma delta T cell activity in liver disease, including immune liver injury, viral hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma, and review gamma delta T cell-based clinical immunotherapeutic approaches.

Automated summary

The gamma delta T cell subset plays a crucial role in the adaptive immune response and has important implications in liver disease.