IMMUNOLOGY2026™ Conference Recordings For Attendees-Understanding unconventional T cell development to generate an 'off the shelf' immunotherapy to treat human diseases

Understanding unconventional T cell development to generate an 'off the shelf' immunotherapy to treat human diseases

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The session focused on unconventional T cells, especially Vδ2 gamma delta T cells, and their potential for off-the-shelf immunotherapy. Daniel Pelliccili explained that these cells bridge innate and adaptive immunity, respond rapidly, and produce inflammatory cytokines and cytotoxic molecules. His lab discovered that these cells develop in the postnatal human thymus through three stages marked by CD4, CD161, CD1A, and CD38, and they recreated this development in thymus organoids. The organoid system now allows direct study of human-specific development, including key roles for butyrophilin molecules and the transcription factor PLZF. He also highlighted evidence that gamma delta T cells are promising cancer therapies, with improved survival seen in late-stage liver and lung cancer patients after adoptive transfer. Audience questions addressed advantages over peripheral expansion, exhaustion, safety, and repeated dosing.

Meta Tag

Date April 16, 2026 9:45 AM - 10:00 AM

Room 156

Session Understanding Immune Responses to Optimize Immune Intervention

Speaker Daniel Pellicci

Track Translational and Interventional Immunology (TI)

Year 2026

Keywords

Vδ2 gamma delta T cells

off-the-shelf immunotherapy

human thymus organoids

butyrophilin molecules

cancer adoptive transfer

April 16, 2026 9:45 AM - 10:00 AM

156

Understanding Immune Responses to Optimize Immune Intervention

Daniel Pellicci

Translational and Interventional Immunology (TI)

2026