Antimicrobial Activity of Mucosal-associated Invariant T Cells

Overview

Journal Nat Immunol

Date 2010 Jun 29

PMID 20581831

Citations 498

Authors

Lionel Le Bourhis

Emmanuel Martin

Isabelle Peguillet

Amelie Guihot

Nathalie Froux

Maxime Core

Eva Levy

Mathilde Dusseaux

Vanina Meyssonnier

Virginie Premel

Charlotte Ngo

Beatrice Riteau

Livine Duban

Delphine Robert

Shouxiong Huang

Martin Rottman

Claire Soudais

Olivier Lantz

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Mucosal-associated invariant T lymphocytes (MAIT lymphocytes) are characterized by two evolutionarily conserved features: an invariant T cell antigen receptor (TCR) alpha-chain and restriction by the major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-related protein MR1. Here we show that MAIT cells were activated by cells infected with various strains of bacteria and yeast, but not cells infected with virus, in both humans and mice. This activation required cognate interaction between the invariant TCR and MR1, which can present a bacteria-derived ligand. In humans, we observed considerably fewer MAIT cells in blood from patients with bacterial infections such as tuberculosis. In the mouse, MAIT cells protected against infection by Mycobacterium abscessus or Escherichia coli. Thus, MAIT cells are evolutionarily conserved innate-like lymphocytes that sense and help fight off microbial infection.

Citing Articles

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