Résumé
Human lymphocytes expressing the γδ TCR represent a minor T cell subpopulation found in blood. The majority of these cells express Vγ9Vδ2 determinants and respond to nonpeptidic phosphoantigens. Several studies have shown that, in vivo, the percentage of Vγ9Vδ2 T cells dramatically increases during pathological infection, leading to the hypothesis that they play an important role in the defense against pathogens. However, the specific mechanisms involved in this response remain poorly understood. It has been established that Vγ9Vδ2 T cells display potent cytotoxic activity against virus-infected and tumor cells, thereby resembling NK cells. In this study, we show that, upon stimulation by nonpeptidic Ags, Vγ9Vδ2 T cells express FcγRIIIA (CD16), a receptor that is constitutively expressed on NK cells. CD16 appears to be an activation Ag for Vγ9Vδ2 T cells. Indeed, ligation of CD16 on Vγ9Vδ2 T cells leads to TNF-α production. This TNF-α production, which is dependent (like that induced via the TCR-CD3 complex) on the activation of the p38 and extracellular signal-regulated kinase-2 mitogen-activated protein kinases, can be modulated by CD94 NK receptors. Therefore, it appears that Vγ9Vδ2 T cells can be physiologically activated by two sequential steps via two different cell surface Ags: the TCR-CD3 complex and the FcγRIIIA receptor, which are specific cell surface Ags for T lymphocytes and NK cells, respectively. This strongly suggests that, in the general scheme of the immune response, Vγ9Vδ2 T cells represent an important subpopulation of cells that play a key role in the defense against invading pathogens.