Apoptosis of Fas^high CD4⁺ Synovial T Cells by Borrelia-reactive Fas-ligand^high γδ T Cells in Lyme Arthritis

The function of the minor subset of T lymphocytes bearing the γδ T cell antigen receptor is uncertain. Although some γδ T cells react to microbial products, responsiveness has only rarely been demonstrated toward a bacterial antigen from a naturally occurring human infection. Synovial fluid lymphocytes from patients with Lyme arthritis contain a large proportion of γδ cells that proliferate in response to the causative spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi. Furthermore, synovial γδ T cell clones express elevated and sustained levels of the ligand for Fas (APO-1, CD95) compared to αβ T cells, and induce apoptosis of Fas^high CD4⁺ synovial lymphocytes. The findings suggest that γδ T cells contribute to defense in human infections, as well as manifest an immunoregulatory function at inflammatory sites by a Fas-dependent process.