This most comprehensive analysis to date of γδ T cells in the murine uterus reveals them to compose a unique local T-cell compartment. Consistent with earlier reports, most cells expressed a canonical Vγ6Vδ1 TCR, and produced interleukin (IL)-17A upon stimulation. Nonetheless, contrasting with earlier reports, uterine γδ T cells were not obviously intraepithelial, being more akin to sub-epithelial Vγ6Vδ1⁺ T cells at several other anatomical sites. By contrast to other tissues however, the uterine compartment also included non-Vγ6⁺, IFN-γ-producing cells; was strikingly enriched in young mice; expressed genes hitherto associated with the uterus, including the progesterone receptor; and did not require microbes for development and/or maintenance. This notwithstanding, γδ T-cell deficiency severely impaired resistance to reproductive tract infection by Candida albicans, associated with decreased responses of IL-17-dependent neutrophils. These findings emphasise tissue-specific complexities of different mucosal γδ cell compartments, and their evident importance in lymphoid stress-surveillance against barrier infection.

这项迄今为止对小鼠子宫中 γδ T 细胞最全面的分析表明，它们构成了独特的局部 T 细胞区室。与早期报道一致，大多数细胞表达典型的 Vγ6Vδ1 TCR，并在刺激后产生白细胞介素 (IL)-17A。尽管如此，与早期报道相比，子宫 γδ T 细胞并不明显位于上皮内，更类似于其他几个解剖部位的上皮下 Vγ6Vδ1 ⁺ T 细胞。然而，与其他组织相比，子宫室还包括非 Vγ6 ⁺ 、IFN-γ 产生细胞；在年轻小鼠中显着丰富；迄今为止与子宫相关的表达基因，包括黄体酮受体；并且不需要微生物来进行开发和/或维护。尽管如此，γδ T 细胞缺陷严重损害了对白色念珠菌生殖道感染的抵抗力，与 IL-17 依赖性中性粒细胞的反应降低有关。这些发现强调了不同粘膜 γδ 细胞区室的组织特异性复杂性，及其在针对屏障感染的淋巴应激监视中的明显重要性。