Clonal Vγ6+Vδ4+ T cells promote IL-17-mediated immunity against Staphylococcus aureus skin infection

T cell cytokines contribute to immunity against Staphylococcus aureus, but the predominant T cell subsets involved are unclear. In a S. aureus skin infection mouse model, we found that the IL-17 response was mediated by γδ T cells, which trafficked from lymph nodes to the infected skin to induce neutrophil recruitment, proinflammatory cytokines IL-1α, IL-1β and TNF and host defense peptides. RNA-seq for TRG and TRD sequences in lymph nodes and skin revealed a single clonotypic expansion of the encoded complementarity-determining region 3 amino acid sequence, which could be generated by canonical nucleotide sequences of TRGV5 or TRGV6 and TRDV4. However, only TRGV6 and TRDV4 but not TRDV5 sequences expanded. Finally, Vγ6+ T cells were predominant γδ T cell subset that produced IL 17A as well as IL-22, TNF and IFNγ, indicating a broad and substantial role for clonal Vγ6+Vδ4+ T cells in immunity against S. aureus skin infections.