The human Vδ2

Vδ2+ T cells form the predominant human γδ T-cell population in peripheral blood and mediate T-cell receptor (TCR)-dependent anti-microbial and anti-tumour immunity. Here we show that the Vδ2+ compartment comprises both innate-like and adaptive subsets. Vγ9+ Vδ2+ T cells display semi-invariant TCR repertoires, featuring public Vγ9 TCR sequences equivalent in cord and adult blood. By contrast, we also identify a separate, Vγ9− Vδ2+ T-cell subset that typically has a CD27hiCCR7+CD28+IL-7Rα+ naive-like phenotype and a diverse TCR repertoire, however in response to viral infection, undergoes clonal expansion and differentiation to a CD27loCD45RA+CX3CR1+granzymeA/B+ effector phenotype. Consistent with a function in solid tissue immunosurveillance, we detect human intrahepatic Vγ9− Vδ2+ T cells featuring dominant clonal expansions and an effector phenotype. These findings redefine human γδ T-cell subsets by delineating the Vδ2+ T-cell compartment into innate-like (Vγ9+) and adaptive (Vγ9−) subsets, which have distinct functions in microbial immunosurveillance.
Human Vδ2+ γδ T cells are thought to be an innate-like T-cell population. Here the authors show the Vδ2+ compartment contains both innate-like Vγ9+ and an adaptive Vγ9- subset that undergoes clonal expansion during viral infection and can infiltrate liver tissue.