Inhibitory MHC class I receptors on gamma delta T cells in tumour immunityand autoimmunity

The function of gamma delta T cells is still subject to speculation. The V gamma 9/V delta 2 T-cell receptor of the major gamma delta T-cell subset in human blood recognizes bacterial phosphoantigens and pearly characterized ligands expressed by B-cell lymphomas. Recent data on the expression and fu nction of natural killer inhibitory receptors on human gamma delta T cells have led to the provocative hypothesis that ya T-cell subsets expanded in v ivo may attack tumour cells or induce autoimmunity.