All hands on DE(T)C: Epithelial-resident γδ T cells respond to tissue injury

• Epithelial-resident γδ T cells respond to stress-induced self-antigens.
• Epithelial-resident γδ T cells promote repair of tissue injury.
• Molecules that regulate tissue-resident γδ T cell and γβ T cell functions differ.

Immunology has traditionally focused on the lymphocytes circulating among primary lymphoid organs while the large reservoir of tissue-resident T cells have received relatively less attention. In epithelia, these populations are comprised of significant, and sometimes exclusive, subsets of γδ T cells that are highly specialized in promoting tissue homeostasis. As the epithelial layers of the skin and gut are permanently exposed to the environment, they are continually subject to injury and therefore require highly efficient repair processes to maintain barrier functions. Here, we review the role of γδ T cells in promoting wound healing, a critical and complex process occurring in the skin and other barrier sites.