Immunophenotyping, activation, and expansion of gamma delta T cells: flow cytometry profiling and ex vivo manipulation strategies

Gamma delta (γδ) T cells exhibit unique antiviral, antibacterial, and antitumor properties. Advancing the fundamental understanding of γδ T cell immunobiology and unlocking their full therapeutic potential requires detailed immunophenotypic profiling alongside optimized strategies for ex vivo activation and expansion. In this review, we synthesize current knowledge of γδ T cell immunobiology, emphasizing (i) comprehensive phenotypic characterization using flow cytometry and (ii) emerging approaches for their therapeutic implementation, with a focus on activation and ex vivo expansion methods. By integrating insights from phenotypic analysis with a comparative evaluation of expansion techniques, we provide an overview of γδ T cell immunobiology and their translational potential in immunotherapy.