Institute for Immunology, Hannover Medical School, Germany.
Eur J Immunol. 2013 Aug;43(8):1988-94. doi: 10.1002/eji.201343759.
The thymus generates T cells that are generally functionally immature and thus require peripheral activation for differentiation into effector lymphocytes. Notable exceptions to this rule are murine γδ T cells, many of which have been shown to acquire their functional potential during thymic development from late embryonic stages. Here, we review the underlying ontogenic processes and molecular differentiation mechanisms of murine γδ T cells, focusing on the transcriptional control of IFN-γ and IL-17 expression. We propose that functional commitment of γδ T cells occurs in "developmental windows" defined by the molecular composition of the thymic microenvironment, such as T-cell receptor (TCR), TCR coreceptor ligands, and cytokines. We further discuss the similarities and particularities of functional development of γδ T cells in mice and humans, while highlighting some key unresolved issues for future investigation.
胸腺产生的 T 细胞通常功能不成熟，因此需要在外周环境中激活才能分化为效应淋巴细胞。但这条规则有一个显著的例外，即鼠γδ T 细胞，许多研究表明，它们的功能潜能是在胚胎晚期的胸腺发育过程中获得的。在这里，我们综述了鼠γδ T 细胞的发生过程和分子分化机制，重点关注 IFN-γ 和 IL-17 表达的转录调控。我们提出，γδ T 细胞的功能定向发生在由胸腺微环境的分子组成所定义的“发育窗口”内，如 T 细胞受体（TCR）、TCR 共受体配体和细胞因子。我们进一步讨论了在小鼠和人类中γδ T 细胞功能发育的相似性和特殊性，同时强调了一些未来研究需要解决的关键问题。
