In vitro stimulation with a non-peptidic alkylphosphate expands cells expressing Vγ2-Jγ1.2/Vδ2 T-cell receptors

The majority of peripheral blood gamma delta T cells in healthy adult humans express the V gamma2/V delta2 T-cell receptor (TCR) and generate TCR-mediated, major histocompatibility complex (MHC)unrestricted proliferative responses to low molecular weight alkylphosphates. V gamma2/V delta2 populations after antigen proliferation maintained diversity in the CDR3s of V gamma2 mRNA, indicating that the response was polyclonal or oligoclonal, and were enriched for V gamma2 TCR chains containing the J gamma1.2 segment. Alkylphosphate stimulation further skewed an already biased peripheral blood gamma delta T-cell population and increased the abundance of V gamma2-J gamma1.2/V delta2 T cell receptors, suggesting similarities between the alkylphosphate response and peripheral selection mechanisms shaping this repertoire in human beings.