biostudies-literatureUnknown6Yin WVδ2 γδ (Vδ2) T cells, a major human γδ T cell subset, exhibit broad anti-tumor and anti-infective activity; however, their precise role in chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections remains unclear. In this study, we analyzed the phenotype and function of Vδ2 T cells in 43 HCV-infected patients compared to 39 healthy controls (HCs). Vδ2 T cells from HCV-infected patients were activated and differentiated into effector cells. Vδ2 T cells in patients expressed significantly higher levels of natural killer (NK) cell markers CD56 and CD16 than in HCs, acquiring cytotoxic NK-like phenotype. The Vδ2 T cell phenotype was associated with increased cytolytic effector molecules expression in HCV-infected patients with elevated serum ALT levels. Surprisingly, Vδ2 T cells in patients had a markedly imScientific reports26296https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC4872040biostudies-literatureFunctional dichotomy of Vδ2 γδ T cells in chronic hepatitis C virus infections: role in cytotoxicity but not for IFN-γ production.PMC4872040Peng HRen HTian ZTong SYin WZhang DShao JHu HLiu QPeng MZhang QHu PfalseFunctional dichotomy of Vδ2 γδ T cells in chronic hepatitis C virus infections: role in cytotoxicity but not for IFN-γ production.Vδ2 γδ (Vδ2) T cells, a major human γδ T cell subset, exhibit broad anti-tumor and anti-infective activity; however, their precise role in chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections remains unclear. In this study, we analyzed the phenotype and function of Vδ2 T cells in 43 HCV-infected patients compared to 39 healthy controls (HCs). Vδ2 T cells from HCV-infected patients were activated and differentiated into effector cells. Vδ2 T cells in patients expressed significantly higher levels of natural killer (NK) cell markers CD56 and CD16 than in HCs, acquiring cytotoxic NK-like phenotype. The Vδ2 T cell phenotype was associated with increased cytolytic effector molecules expression in HCV-infected patients with elevated serum ALT levels. Surprisingly, Vδ2 T cells in patients had a markedly im2016-01-01T00:00:00Z2016 May2025-04-27T01:29:37.584Z2019-03-27T02:14:00ZS-EPMC48720402719296010.1038/srep26296