Thymic development of unconventional T cells: how NKT cells, MAIT cells and γδ T cells emerge

T cell lineages are defined by specialized functions and differential expression of surface antigens, cytokines and transcription factors. Conventional CD4(+)and CD8(+)T cells are the best studied of the T cell subsets, but 'unconventional' T cells have emerged as being more abundant and influential than has previously been appreciated. Key subsets of unconventional T cells include natural killer T (NKT) cells, mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells and gamma delta T cells; collectively, these make up similar to 10% of circulating T cells, and often they are the majority of T cells in tissues such as the liver and gut mucosa. Defects and deficiencies in unconventional T cells are associated with autoimmunity, chronic inflammation and cancer, so it is important to understand how their development is regulated. In this Review, we describe the thymic development of NKT cells, MAIT cells and gamma delta T cells and highlight some of the key differences between conventional and unconventional T cell development. The authors compare the thymic development of several innate-like T cell populations, including natural killer T cells, mucosal-associated invariant T cells and gamma delta T cells. They focus on the cytokines, surface molecules and transcription factors that are necessary for the development of these cells and highlight some of the key differences from conventional T cell development.