Bridging innate and adaptive immunity through γδ T-dendritic cell crosstalk

Like Natural Killer cells, gamma delta T cells and Natural Killer T cells display several innate-like features that confer them a broad reactivity against tumors and pathogens. By recognizing stress-induced conserved antigens upregulated a wide array of physiopathological contexts, these lymphoid subsets develop strong and early responses to a broad set of targets. One of the most exciting roles possibly played in vivo by non-conventional T lymphocytes, which exhibit a biased natural memory phenotype, is active regulation of adaptive immune responses through interactions with antigen presenting cells (APCs), such as dendritic cells. Here we will review recent studies reporting functional interactions between gamma delta T cells and APC and a possible involvement of these lymphocytes in bridging innate and adaptative immunity along infections and tumor development. Our discussion will focus on human gamma delta T cells and more specifically on V gamma 9V delta 2 T cells, a major subset found in human peripheral blood.