There is a small population of peripheral T cells bearing the γδ T-cell receptor, which may be
involved in the defense against invading microorganisms and tumor cells. The present study
was designed to evaluate the levels of γδ T cells in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis,
bacterial pneumonia, chronic lower respiratory tract infection, lung cancer, and normal
control subjects with or without old tuberculous lesion. The results showed that only patients
with tuberculosis had significantly increased proportions of peripheral blood γδ T cells. This …