Antigen-Presenting Cell Characteristics of Human γδ T Lymphocytes in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia.

Human gamma delta T lymphocytes play a role in the immune system defense against cancer. Their broad anti-cancer activity against different types of cancers makes them outstanding candidates for cancer immunotherapy. An issue of recent interest is whether their antigen presentation features are similar to mature dendritic cells. The antigen-presenting cell (APC)-like phenotype and function of gamma delta T lymphocytes have been confirmed in many clinical trials. In this study, to support the strong role played by V gamma 9V delta 2 T cells against cancer, we provide evidence that V gamma 9V delta 2 T cells activated with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) cell lysate antigens can efficiently express an APC phenotype and function. V gamma 9V delta 2 T cells derived from normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells were activated with tumor cell lysate, and the tumor-activated V gamma 9V delta 2 T cells could recognize and kill CML through their cytotoxic activity. In conclusion, the V gamma 9V delta 2 T cells activated by cancer cell lysate showed APC characteristics, and this may greatly increase interest in investigating their therapeutic potential in hematologic malignancies.