γδ T cells are secondary participants in acute graft-versus-host reactions initiated by CD4+ αβT cells

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Abstract
To examine the role of T cell subpopulations in an acute graft‐versus‐host (GVH) reaction, γδ T cells and αβ T cells expressing one of the two prototypic Vβ gene families were negatively isolated from adult blood samples and injected into allogeneic chick embryos. CD4+ αβ T cells expressing either Vβ1 or Vβ2 receptors were equally capable of inducing acute GVH reactions, consistent with the idea that αβ T cell alloreactivity is determined by CDR3 variability. By themselves, the γδ T cells were incapable of inducing GVH reactions. However, host γδ T cells were recruited into the donor αβ T cell‐initiated lesions, where they were activated and induced to proliferate. The data suggest that γβ T cells may play a secondary role in GVH reactions.