An ‘unconventional’ immune cell that can fight viral infections, has been discovered by UK researchers.
Scientists at the University of Birmingham, working with colleagues from the Academic Medical Centre, Netherlands, and Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Russia, undertook research that focused on T cells, building on a previous study, which suggested many gamma delta T cells that control our immune system can adapt when faced with infectious challenges.
Writing in Nature Communications, the team has revealed that it has defined a subset of ‘unconventional V-delta-2 lymphocytes’, a type of Gamma Delta T cell that is present at birth and persists at low levels in adults.
It can increase significantly in numbers during virus infections.
The team looked at how the subtype responded to cytomegalovirus and found that when these T cells detected signs of the virus infection they both increased in numbers and became destroyed target cells.
Lead author Dr Martin Davey, of the University of Birmingham’s Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, said: “These cells can clearly adapt to some key challenges that life throws at them.
“Upon viral infection, they change from harmless precursors into what appear to be ruthless killers. They can then access tissues, where we believe they detect and destroy virally infected target cells.”
The researchers are now trying to find out when these unconventional killer T cells are most important and how they can be harnessed to advance treatments to fight viral infections.
“We think these cells contribute to defence against viral infection in the liver, a site which is exposed to many potentially dangerous infectious diseases,” said Dr Davey.
“They may also be particularly important when other aspects of our immune system are not working at full strength, such as in new-born babies, but also in transplant patients who are taking immunosuppressive drugs to prevent organ rejection.
“In these scenarios, boosting the activity of these cells could prove beneficial to patients, and we are now starting to explore how to do that.”
Davey M, Willcox C, Hunter s et al. The human V?2+ T-cell compartment comprises distinct innate-like V?9+ and adaptive V?9- subsets. Nature Communications. 2 May 2018; doi:10.1038/s41467-018-04076-0
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