Compartmentalization gamma/delta T cells and their putative role in mucosal immunity

gamma/delta T cells are an enigmatic group of cells and their functions still remain unknown. The epithelial-associated gamma/delta T cells, which are abundant at mucosal surfaces, are ideally situated to contribute to the initial stages of the immune response. Recent evidence suggests that they recognize stress-induced self-antigens which would enable a homogeneous population of gamma/delta T cells to monitor multiple insults to the epithelium. This could explain the observed oligoclonality and homogeneous distribution of cells carrying identical TCR within mucosal surfaces. However, the analysis of the TCR delta repertoire from different mucosal surfaces indicated that gamma/delta T cells are highly compartmentalized. Thus, gamma/delta T cells are not one homogeneous group of cells which recognize the same (stress-induced) self-antigens, but consist of different subsets that are likely to have distinct functions. It is possible that gamma/delta T cells interact with antigens that are specific for that organ or recognize foreign antigens which are limited to that site. In addition it was shown that gamma/delta T cells can have opposite functions and be proinflammatory or promote epithelial healing. This review focuses on the distribution and repertoire of mucosal gamma/delta T cells and discusses what is currently known about the functions of these cells. Furthermore, their potential role in inflammatory bowel disease is examined.