New Aspect of Liver IL-17+ γδ T Cells

Liver is a critical organ where comprehensive immune regulation or defense occurs. gamma delta T cells in liver represent indispensable population and are found to be regulating a variety of diseases including autoimmunity, cancer, fibrosis, and infections. IL-17(+) gamma delta T cells in liver is a functional subset which has been found to have pro inflammatory effect or anti-infection ability. However, how their function is activated or maintained, isn't well understood. Microbiota in the intestine provide continual source of metabolites to the liver, through at least the portal vein. The interaction between intestinal microbiota and liver gamma delta T cells has not been well studied. Li et al found that lipid antigen derived from intestinal microbiota was presented by hepatocyte CD1d, and activated liver-resident gamma delta T cells and maintained the IL-17 production. Moreover, microbiota promoted NAFLD through IL-17(+) gamma delta T cells. Thus, new aspect of IL-17(+) gamma delta T cells in the liver was characterized.