It was found that Vδ2 T cells predominated in the peripheral blood, especially the effector Vδ2 cell subpopulation (C1), which exhibited high expression of genes associated with cytotoxicity (e.g. PRF1, GZMA, GZMB etc.), and effector transcription factors (e.g., TBX21, ZEB2), suggesting that these cells posses a potent cell-killing function in the anti-tuberculosis immune response. The gene discussed is TBX21; the disease is tuberculosis.