Regulation of gamma delta T Cell Effector Diversification in the Thymus

gamma delta T cells are the first T cell lineage to develop in the thymus and take up residence in a wide variety of tissues where they can provide fast, innate-like sources of effector cytokines for barrier defense. In contrast to conventional alpha beta T cells that egress the thymus as naive cells, gamma delta T cells can be programmed for effector function during development in the thymus. Understanding the molecular mechanisms that determine gamma delta T cell effector fate is of great interest due to the wide-spread tissue distribution of gamma delta T cells and their roles in pathogen clearance, immunosurveillance, cancer, and autoimmune diseases. In this review, we will integrate the current understanding of the role of the T cell receptor, environmental signals, and transcription factor networks in controlling mouse innate-like gamma delta T cell effector commitment.