Characterization of immune modulating functions of γδ T cell subsets in a gnotobiotic pig model of human rotavirus infection

• Published in: Comparative immunology, microbiology and infectious diseases microbiology and infectious diseases, 2012-07, Vol.35 (4), p.289-301
• Main Authors: Wen, Ke, Bui, Tammy, Li, Guohua, Liu, Fangning, Li, Yanru, Kocher, Jacob, Yuan, Lijuan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Allergy and Immunology; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; CD2 Antigens - metabolism; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - immunology; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes - pathology; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes - immunology; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes - pathology; Coculture Techniques; Cytokines; Disease Models, Animal; Flow Cytometry; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gammadelta (γδ) T cell subset; Gene Expression; Germ-Free Life - immunology; Gnotobiotic pigs; Humans; Infectious Disease; Interferon-gamma - biosynthesis; Interferon-gamma - immunology; Interleukin-10 - biosynthesis; Interleukin-10 - immunology; Microbiology; Miscellaneous; Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta - metabolism; Rotavirus; Rotavirus Infections - immunology; Rotavirus Infections - pathology; Rotavirus Infections - virology; Swine; T cell proliferation; T-Lymphocyte Subsets - immunology; T-Lymphocyte Subsets - pathology; Toll-like receptors; Toll-Like Receptors - genetics; Toll-Like Receptors - immunology; Transforming Growth Factor beta - biosynthesis; Transforming Growth Factor beta - immunology; Virology
• ISSN: 0147-9571; 1878-1667
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cimid.2012.01.010

Abstract We characterized immune modulating functions of porcine γδ T cell subsets in rotavirus infection using a gnotobiotic pig model of human rotavirus infection and sort-purified lymphocyte autologous co-cultures. We demonstrated that CD2+CD8− and CD2−CD8− γδ T cells have mainly pro-inflammatory function as evident by directly secreting IFN-γ or promoting CD4+ αβ T cell proliferation and IFN-γ production, whereas CD2+CD8+ γδ T cells mainly exert regulatory T cell function by expressing FoxP3, secreting IL-10 and TGF-β or increasing IL-10 and TGF-β production by CD4+ αβ T cells. γδ T cells responded to rotavirus infection by increasing TLR2, TLR3, TLR9 expression and IFN-γ and/or TGF-β production. The CD8− subsets likely differentiate into CD8+ subset by acquiring CD8 expression, explaining in part the apparently dual functions of CD2+CD8+ and CD2+CD8− subsets. Thus, both CD8+ and CD8− γδ T cell subsets can contribute to anti-rotavirus immunity and to the maintenance and restoration of intestinal and systemic homeostasis.