In this study, Cyster and colleagues investigated whether a population of migratory mouse dermal γδ T cells that produce interleukin-17 (IL-17) and express the T cell receptor Vγ4 can develop immune memory. Following local imiquimod treatment — which induces skin inflammation — the authors found that this population of γδ T cells expands in draining lymph nodes and migrates through the blood to distant skin sites and peripheral lymph nodes, where they can persist for months. After secondary challenge at a distant skin site, memory-like γδ T cells expanded more rapidly and produced more IL-17 than after primary challenge and thereby enabled a faster skin inflammatory response. This memory feature enhances protection against repeated exposure to pathogens, but it might also exaggerate chronic skin diseases such as psoriasis.
References
Ramírez-Vallea, F., Gray, E. E. & Cyster, J. G. Inflammation induces dermal Vγ4+ γδT17 memory-like cells that travel to distant skin and accelerate secondary IL-17-driven responses. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1508990112 (2015)
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Kugelberg, E. γδ T cells reach out. Nat Rev Immunol 15, 403 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/nri3883
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nri3883