A hierarchy for integrin expression and adhesiveness among T cell subsets that is linked to TCR gene usage and emphasizes V delta 1+ gamma delta T cell adherence and tissue retention.

To define the relationship between T cell phenotype and adhesiveness, we examined T cell adhesion to endothelial cell, fibroblast, and epithelial cell monolayers as well as extracellular matrix proteins (collagen and fibronectin) using a three-color flow cytometry-based adherence assay that minimizes basal adhesion levels and facilitates quantitative lymphocyte subtyping. Regardless of monolayer type, monolayer stimulation conditions, or T cell activation status, we found that the gamma delta-TCR-bearing T cells adhered more efficiently than alpha beta T cells. The difference was based predominantly on increased levels of activatable LFA-1 (and to a lesser degree VLA-4) because: 1) it correlated precisely with inhibitability by anti-LFA-1 (and VLA-4) mAbs and the levels of LFA-1 (and VLA-4) on the cell surface, and 2) it persisted after maximal LFA-1 (and VLA-4) activation with phorbol dibutyrate. In contrast to most cases of alpha beta T cell behavior, gamma delta T cell adhesion to cell monolayers was not linked to memory status, i.e., there was no difference between naive V delta 1+ and memory V delta 2+ populations in levels of LFA-1 (or VLA-4) expression or LFA-1- (or VLA-4-) dependent adhesion to cell monolayers. However, V delta 1+ cells exhibited higher levels of VLA-5 that correlated with an increased adhesiveness to fibronectin and to a 120-kDa fibronectin fragment (FN-120) that contains only the VLA-5-binding domain but not to type I collagen or to a fibronectin fragment (FN-40) that binds only VLA-4. Taken together, the results define a hierarchy for integrin (LFA-1, VLA-4, and VLA-5) expression and consequent adhesion among T cell subsets that is linked to TCR gene usage (but not necessarily linked to memory status) and may thereby help to explain the accumulation and retention of V delta 1+ gamma delta T cells in epithelial and connective tissues.