The co-receptor BTLA negatively regulates human Vγ9Vδ2 T-cell proliferation: a potential way of immune escape for lymphoma cells

Blood. 2013 Aug 8;122(6):922-31. doi: 10.1182/blood-2012-11-464685. Epub 2013 May 21.

Abstract

Vγ9Vδ2 cells, the major γδ T-cell subset in human peripheral blood, represent a T-cell subset that displays reactivity against microbial agents and tumors. The biology of Vγ9Vδ2 T cells remains poorly understood. We show herein that the interaction between B- and T-lymphocyte attenuator (BTLA) and herpesvirus entry mediator (HVEM) is a major regulator of Vγ9Vδ2 T-cell proliferation control. BTLA was strongly expressed at the surface of resting Vγ9Vδ2 T cells and inversely correlated with T-cell differentiation. BTLA-HVEM blockade by monoclonal antibodies resulted in the enhancement of Vγ9Vδ2 T-cell receptor-mediated signaling, whereas BTLA-HVEM interaction led to a decrease in phosphoantigen-mediated proliferation by inducing a partial S-phase arrest. Our data also suggested that BTLA-HVEM might participate in the control of γδ T-cell differentiation. In addition, the proliferation of autologous γδ T cells after exposition to lymphoma cells was dramatically reduced through BTLA-HVEM interaction. These data suggest that HVEM interaction with BTLA may play a role in lymphomagenesis by interfering with Vγ9Vδ2 T-cell proliferation. Moreover, BTLA stimulation of Vγ9Vδ2 T cells appears as a new possible mechanism of immune escape by lymphoma cells.

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / immunology
  • Cell Cycle
  • Cell Differentiation
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Hodgkin Disease / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology
  • Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / immunology*
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / metabolism
  • Receptors, Immunologic / genetics
  • Receptors, Immunologic / physiology*
  • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Member 14 / immunology
  • S Phase
  • Signal Transduction
  • T-Lymphocyte Subsets / immunology*
  • Tumor Escape
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / metabolism

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • BTLA protein, human
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell
  • Receptors, Immunologic
  • Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Member 14
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha