Vδ2-T cell receptor (Vδ2 TCR)

The Vδ2-T cell receptor is a T cell receptor variant defined by its use of the Vδ2 gene segment. It is predominantly found in peripheral blood γδ T cells of adults, almost always paired with the Vγ9 chain, forming the Vγ9Vδ2 TCR heterodimer. This receptor recognizes small, non-peptidic phosphorylated antigens (phosphoantigens) that accumulate in infected or malignant cells, but does so indirectly: phosphoantigens bind to intracellular domains of the butyrophilin family protein BTN3A1, which then undergoes a conformational change to present an activation signal to the Vδ2 TCR. Vγ9Vδ2 T cells mediate rapid, potent cytotoxic immune responses, play a role in anti-tumor and anti-microbial immunity, and serve as promising effectors for immunotherapy. Vδ2 T cells also display APC-like properties under certain activation conditions. Their activation, homing, phenotype, and function are modulated by chemokine receptors and co-stimulatory molecules, and their precise mechanism of phosphoantigen antigen recognition remains an active area of research.

Other names

Vδ2 TCRVγ9Vδ2 TCR (Vγ9-Vδ2 T cell receptor)Vδ2+ T cell receptorGamma delta T cell receptor Vδ2

Induction of cytotoxic T cell response via recognition of phosphoantigen-presenting BTN3A1 on tumor/infected cells (butyrophilin-dependent activation) Antigen-independent cytotoxicity mediated by NK cell receptors, such as NKG2D, expressed on Vδ2 T cells