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Human Vγ9Vδ2 T cells play a crucial role in early immune response to intracellular pathogens. Their number is drastically increased in the peripheral blood of patients during the acute phase of brucellosis. In vitro, Vγ9Vδ2 T cells exhibit strong cytolytic activity against Brucella-infected cells and impair intracellular growth of Brucella suis in autologous macrophages. Vγ9Vδ2 T cells use cell contact-dependent mechanisms such as the release of lytic granules and Fas-mediated signals to lyse infected macrophages and decrease the development of intracellular Brucella. Although the involvement of the T-cell receptor (TCR) in the triggering of these responses is known, other surface receptors can modulate Vγ9Vδ2 T-cell response. In this study, we have investigated a potential role of NKG2D and its ligands in the anti-infectious activity of human Vγ9Vδ2 T cells against B. suis. We show that the recruitment of NKG2D by its ligands is sufficient to induce cytokine production and the release of lytic granules through PI3K-dependent pathways, but can also increase the TCR-triggered responses of Vγ9Vδ2 T cells. We also demonstrate that the interaction between NKG2D and its main ligand expressed on Brucella-infected macrophages, UL16-binding protein 1 (ULBP1), is involved in the inhibition of bacterium development. Altogether, these results suggest a direct contribution of NKG2D and its ligands to the anti-infectious activity of Vγ9Vδ2 T cells., (Copyright © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

Human invariant NKT (iNKT) cells are a unique subset of T cells, which recognize glycolipids presented by the CD1d. Among the iNKT cells, several functionally distinct subsets have been characterized according to CD4 and/or CD8 co-receptor expression. The current study is focussed on the CD4(+) iNKT cell subset and its role in an anti-infectious response. We have examined the role of CD4(+) iNKT cells on the intracellular Brucella suis growth. Our results indicate that CD4(+) iNKT cells impair the intramacrophagic growth of Brucella. This inhibition is due to a combination of soluble and contact-dependent mechanisms: IFN-gamma is weakly involved while cytotoxic activities such as the induction of the Fas pathway and the release of lytic granules are major mechanisms. The impairment of Brucella growth by CD4(+) iNKT cells requires an interaction with CD1d on macrophage surface. Also, we have shown that although CD4 regulates several biological responses of CD4(+) iNKT cells, it is not involved in their antibacterial activity. Here, we have shown for the first time that the CD4(+) iNKT cell population has antibacterial activity and thus, participates directly in the elimination of bacteria and/or in the control of bacterial growth by killing infected cells.