An innate view of gamma delta T cells.

Findings made during the past few years demonstrate that gamma delta T cells apparently share with macrophages a propensity to recognize nonpeptidic molecules of the kind most commonly associated with microorganisms and stressed cells. In general, recognition of these antigens by gamma delta T cells involves the antigen receptor but does not require antigen presenting cells to express MHC gene products or to have a functional antigen processing machinery. Other recent advances continue to support the notion that gamma delta T cells can perform specialized functions related to the repair of tissue damage.