The probiotic Escherichia coli strain Nissle 1917 induces γδ T cell apoptosis via caspase- and FasL-dependent pathways

Human gamma delta T cells play a vital role in the innate and adaptive immune response to microbial antigens by acting as antigen-presenting cells while at the same time being capable of directly activating CD4(+) T cells. Pathogenic microbes or loss of tolerance toward the host's own microflora trigger many diseases including inflammatory bowel diseases. We previously demonstrated that Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 directly interacts with the adaptive immune system by regulating central T cell functions. Here we aimed to investigate whether E. coli Nissle regulates gamma delta T cell function, thereby linking the innate and adaptive immune system. In our study, we demonstrate that, in contrast to the other probiotic strains tested, E. coli Nissle increased activation, cell cycling and expansion of gamma delta, but not alpha beta T cells. In gamma delta T cells, E. coli Nissle reduced tumor necrosis factor-alpha secretion but increased IL-6 and CXCL8 release. However, after activation, only E. coli Nissle induced gamma delta T cell apoptosis, mediated via Toll-like receptor-2 by caspase- and FasLigand-dependent pathways. gamma delta T cells play an important role in the recognition of microbial antigens and the perpetuation of inflammatory processes. The demonstration that E. coli Nissle, but not the other bacteria tested, profoundly regulate gamma delta T cell function contributes to explaining the biological function of this probiotic strain in inflammatory diseases and provides us with a better understanding of the role of gamma delta T cells.