gammadelta and alphabeta T cell lineage choice: resolution by a stronger sense of being

A common bipotent thymocyte precursor gives rise to both lineages of T cells, alphabeta and gammadelta. However, the cell intrinsic and extrinsic factors that influence alphabeta- versus gammadelta-lineage bifurcation remain controversial. gammadelta T cells play a unique and vital role in host defe...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Seminars in immunology 2010-08, Vol.22 (4), p.228-236
Main Authors: Wong, Gladys W, Zúñiga-Pflücker, Juan Carlos
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Cell Lineage
Humans
Models, Immunological
Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta - immunology
Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta - metabolism
Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta - immunology
Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta - metabolism
Signal Transduction
T-Lymphocytes - cytology
T-Lymphocytes - immunology
T-Lymphocytes - metabolism
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Summary:A common bipotent thymocyte precursor gives rise to both lineages of T cells, alphabeta and gammadelta. However, the cell intrinsic and extrinsic factors that influence alphabeta- versus gammadelta-lineage bifurcation remain controversial. gammadelta T cells play a unique and vital role in host defense, from maintaining integrity at epithelial and mucosal barriers to their newly defined role as an important innate source of interleukin-17. Although a T cell receptor (TCR)-independent fate choice may take place, emerging data supports a model in which the differential signaling capacity of alphabeta and gammadeltaTCRs play an instructional role in specifying lineage fate, with strength of signal measured by the amount of ERK/MAPK pathway activation. Here we discuss how the interplay between intrinsic TCR signals and cell extrinsic signals provided by Notch and TCR ligands help to assign and support a final lineage fate decision.
ISSN:1096-3618
DOI:10.1016/j.smim.2010.04.005