Gammadelta T cell receptor-bearing dendritic epidermal T cells (DETCs) found in murine skin recognize antigen expressed by damaged or stressed keratinocytes. Activated DETCs produce keratinocyte growth factors (KGFs) and chemokines, raising the possibility that DETCs play a role in tissue repair. We performed wound healing studies and found defects in keratinocyte proliferation and tissue reepithelialization in the absence of wild-type DETCs. In vitro skin organ culture studies demonstrated that adding DETCs or recombinant KGF restored normal wound healing in gammadelta DETC-deficient skin. We propose that DETCs recognize antigen expressed by injured keratinocytes and produce factors that directly affect wound repair.
The role played in immune surveillance by γδ T cells residing in various epithelia has not been clear. It is shown here that activated γδ T cells obtained from skin and intestine express the epithelial cell mitogen keratinocyte growth factor (KGF). In contrast, intraepithelial αβ T cells, as well as all lymphoid αβ and γδ T cell populations tested, did not produce KGF or promote the growth of cultured epithelial cells. These results suggest that intraepithelial γδ T cells function in surveillance and in repair of damaged epithelial tissues.
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