Biological functions of MAIT cells in tissues

Mucosal associated invariant T (MAIT) cells have a recognised innate-like capacity for antibacterial host defence, consequent on the specificity of their T cell receptor (TCR) for small molecule metabolites produced by a range of prokaryotic and fungal species, their effector memory phenotype, and t...

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Auteurs principaux: Klenerman, P, Hinks, TSC, Ussher, J
Format: Journal article
Langue:English
Publié: Elsevier 2020
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author Klenerman, P
Hinks, TSC
Ussher, J
author_facet Klenerman, P
Hinks, TSC
Ussher, J
author_sort Klenerman, P
collection OXFORD
description Mucosal associated invariant T (MAIT) cells have a recognised innate-like capacity for antibacterial host defence, consequent on the specificity of their T cell receptor (TCR) for small molecule metabolites produced by a range of prokaryotic and fungal species, their effector memory phenotype, and their expression of cytotoxic molecules. However, recent studies have identified at least two other important functions of MAIT cells in antiviral immunity and in tissue homeostasis and repair. Each are related to distinct transcriptional programmes, which are activated differentially according to the specific immune context. Here we discuss these diverse functions, we review the evidence for the newly identified role of MAIT cells in promoting tissue repair, and we discuss emerging data pointing to the future directions of MAIT cell research including roles in cancer, in antiviral immunity and recent studies in the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Overall these studies have made us aware of the potential for pleiotropic roles of MAIT cells and related cell populations in micee and humans, and have created a simple and attractive new paradigm for regulation in barrier tissues, where antigen and tissue damage are sensed, integrated and interpreted.
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spelling oxford-uuid:e15bace3-a1bf-4b19-82c9-4a5740a38bfc2022-03-27T09:53:59ZBiological functions of MAIT cells in tissuesJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:e15bace3-a1bf-4b19-82c9-4a5740a38bfcEnglishSymplectic ElementsElsevier2020Klenerman, PHinks, TSCUssher, JMucosal associated invariant T (MAIT) cells have a recognised innate-like capacity for antibacterial host defence, consequent on the specificity of their T cell receptor (TCR) for small molecule metabolites produced by a range of prokaryotic and fungal species, their effector memory phenotype, and their expression of cytotoxic molecules. However, recent studies have identified at least two other important functions of MAIT cells in antiviral immunity and in tissue homeostasis and repair. Each are related to distinct transcriptional programmes, which are activated differentially according to the specific immune context. Here we discuss these diverse functions, we review the evidence for the newly identified role of MAIT cells in promoting tissue repair, and we discuss emerging data pointing to the future directions of MAIT cell research including roles in cancer, in antiviral immunity and recent studies in the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Overall these studies have made us aware of the potential for pleiotropic roles of MAIT cells and related cell populations in micee and humans, and have created a simple and attractive new paradigm for regulation in barrier tissues, where antigen and tissue damage are sensed, integrated and interpreted.
spellingShingle Klenerman, P
Hinks, TSC
Ussher, J
Biological functions of MAIT cells in tissues
title Biological functions of MAIT cells in tissues
title_full Biological functions of MAIT cells in tissues
title_fullStr Biological functions of MAIT cells in tissues
title_full_unstemmed Biological functions of MAIT cells in tissues
title_short Biological functions of MAIT cells in tissues
title_sort biological functions of mait cells in tissues
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AT hinkstsc biologicalfunctionsofmaitcellsintissues
AT ussherj biologicalfunctionsofmaitcellsintissues