Human γδ T lymphocytes are licensed for professional antigen presentation by interaction with opsonized target cells

Abstract

Activated human blood γδ T cells have also been previously demonstrated to behave as professional APCs, although the processes that control APC function have not been characterized. n this study, we show that the acquisition of potent APC function by human blood γδ T cells is achieved after physical interaction with an Ab-coated target cell, a process that we refer to as licensing. In cancer models, licensing of γδ T cells by tumor-reactive mAbs promotes the uptake of tumor Ags and professional presentation to tumor-reactive αβ T cells. We propose that licensing by Ab is a mechanism whereby the adaptive properties of γδ T cells are induced by their innate functions in a spatially and temporally controlled manner.