Recognition of heat shock proteins and gamma delta cell function.

Recently evidence has accumulated suggesting that gamma delta cells may participate in the immune response to mycobacteria and other infectious organisms. Many mouse gamma delta cells are stimulated by the 65 kDa heat shock protein of M. bovis and human gamma delta cell lines reactive with this mycobacterial protein have also been isolated. Indirect evidence further suggests that gamma delta cells can recognize autologous heat shock proteins. In this article, Willi Born and colleagues focus on these and other recent findings and speculate on their importance to gamma delta cell function in vivo.