Characterization of gammadelta T cells infiltrating human colon adenocarcinomas

gd T cell infiltration into tumours usually correlates with improved patient outcome, but both tumour-promoting and tumoricidal effects of γδ T cells have been documented. Human γδ T cells can be divided into functionally distinct subsets based on T cell receptor Vd usage. Still, the contribution of these different subsets to tumour immunity remains elusive. Here, we provide a detailed gd T cell profiling in colon tumours, comprising mRNA quantification using the Nanostring platform, in combination with mass and flow cytometry and TCR sequencing. δ chain usage in both the macroscopically unaffected colon mucosa and tumours varied considerably between patients, with substantial fractions of Vδ1, Vδ2, and non-Vd1Vd2 cells. Nanostring analyses of flow cytometry sorted Vd1, Vd2 and non-Vd1Vd2 cells showed a large variation in gd T cell subsets between individual tumours, and we suggest that individual gd T cell composition in colon tumours may contribute to the balance between favourable and adverse immune responses, and thereby also patient outcome. Vd1, Vd2, and non-Vd1Vd2 cells isolated from tumors originating from 4 different patients were analysed with Nanostring nCounter human immunology v2 panel.