Detection of peripheral CD14+ CD277+ monocyte-macrophage ratio with γδ TCR tetramer and analysis of its relationship with treatment outcome
Objective 
To investigate the role of peripheral CD14+ monocyte-macrophages in the recognition of phosphorylated antigen by γδ T cells and its relationship with treatment outcome. 
 
 
Methods 
Three kinds of γδ TCR tetramers were used to stain PBMC collected from patients with tuberculosis (TB) and neonatal umbilical cord blood samples. The proportions of various TB-specific antigen presenting cells (APC) in peripheral blood were analyzed, and their relationships with treatment outcome were assessed based upon clinical data. 
 
 
Results 
CD14+ monocyte-macrophages both in tuberculosis patients′ peripheral blood and neonatal umbilical cord blood were the strongest binding cells to CD277 antibody and γδ TCR tetramers. The median (P50) of CD14+ monocyte-macrophages reached the highest peak after taking anti-tuberculosis treatment for about one month and patients′ condition was improved obviously during this period. 
 
 
Conclusion 
This study elucidated that CD14+ monocyte-macrophages accounted for the largest proportion of APC when γδ T cells recognized phosphorylated antigens, which provided reference data for further study on the mechanism of γδ T cells restrictively recognizing phosphorylated antigen and their significance in innate and adaptive immunity. 
 
 
Key words: 
Tuberculosis; γδTCR tetramer; Flow cytometry; Monocyte-macrophage; Treatment outcome