Demonstrates how γδ T cells drive a profibrotic response in airway macrophages during lung cancer in mice, suggesting new treatment avenues.
γδ T cells are important for host defense at the respiratory mucosa, acting directly or through interactions with other cells. However, how γδ T cells influence other immune cells in the lung remains unclear. Using a genetically engineered mouse model of lung cancer, we show that tumors drive expansion of both CD27 + and CD27 − γδ T cells. Advanced microscopy techniques indicated that CD27 − γδ T cells are enriched in tumors, whereas CD27 + γδ T cells are more prone to interact with macrophages in tumor-associated adventitial cuffs. SiglecF low profibrotic airway macrophages were more prevalent in lung tumor-bearing mice than tumor-free mice. This profibrotic subset was reduced in lungs when the cancer model was crossed to Tcrd knockout mice or treated with Vγ1-depleting antibodies but not in TcrgV4/6 knockout mice. Thus, our findings implicate Vγ1 γδ T cells in driving tumor-associated airway macrophage functional imprinting. Determining the translatability to human health may offer new avenues for refining patient management and immunotherapeutic strategies.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Raffo-Iraolagoitia et al. (2026) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: