bims-maitce Biomed News
on MAIT cells
Issue of 2024–02–11
two papers selected by
Andy E. Hogan, Maynooth University



  1. Mol Hum Reprod. 2024 Feb 03. pii: gaae006. [Epub ahead of print]
      Preterm birth (PTB) is a major problem affecting perinatal health, directly increasing the mortality risk of mother and infant that often results from the breakdown of the maternal- fetal immune balance. Increasing evidence shows the essential role of mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells to balance antibacterial function and immune tolerance function during pregnancy. However, the phenotype and function of placental MAIT cells and their specific mechanisms in PTB remain unclear. Here, we report that MAIT cells in the placenta of PTB show increased activation levels and decreased IFN-γ secretion capacity compared with those in normal pregnancy. Moreover, our data indicate gravidity is a factor affecting placental MAIT cells during pregnancies. Multi-omics analysis indicated aberrant immune activation and abnormal increase of lipids and lipid-like metabolites in the placental microenvironment of PTB. Moreover, the proportion and activation of MAIT cells were positively correlated with the abnormal increase of lipids and lipid-like metabolites. Together, our work revealed that abnormal activation and impaired function of MAIT cells may be related to abnormal elevation of lipids and lipid-like metabolites in PTB.
    Keywords:  MAIT cells; gravidity; immunoregulation; lipids; maternal-fetal interface microenvironment; metabolism; preterm birth
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1093/molehr/gaae006
  2. J Scleroderma Relat Disord. 2024 Feb;9(1): 67-78
       Objective: Systemic sclerosis is an autoimmune disease characterized by fibrosis of the skin and internal organs including the lung. Mucosal-associated invariant T cells are innate-like T lymphocytes able to produce various cytokines and cytotoxic mediators such as granzyme B. A large body of evidence supports a role of mucosal-associated invariant T cells in autoimmune disease but more recent reports suggest also a potential role in fibrotic conditions. Therefore, we herein addressed the question as whether mucosal-associated invariant T cells may have an altered profile in systemic sclerosis.
    Methods: Mucosal-associated invariant T cell frequency was analyzed by flow cytometry, using fresh peripheral blood from 74 consecutive systemic sclerosis patients who were compared to 44 healthy donors. In addition, in-depth mucosal-associated invariant T cell phenotype and function were analyzed in unselected 29 women with systemic sclerosis who were compared to 23 healthy women donors.
    Results: Proportion of circulating mucosal-associated invariant T cells was significantly reduced by 68% in systemic sclerosis compared to healthy donors (0.78% in systemic sclerosis vs 2.5%, p < 0.0001). Within systemic sclerosis subsets, mucosal-associated invariant T cells were reduced in patients with interstitial lung disease (systemic sclerosis-interstitial lung disease) (0.56% vs 0.96% in patients without interstitial lung disease, p = 0.04). Moreover, in systemic sclerosis patients, mucosal-associated invariant T cells displayed an activated phenotype indicated by markedly increased CD69+ mucosal-associated invariant T cell frequency (20% mucosal-associated invariant T cell CD69+ compared to 9.4% in healthy donors, p = 0.0014). Interestingly, mucosal-associated invariant T cells from systemic sclerosis-interstitial lung disease patients had a more pronounced altered phenotype compared to systemic sclerosis without interstitial lung disease with a correlation between mucosal-associated invariant T cells expressing CCR6+ and mucosal-associated invariant T cell frequency (r = 0.8, p = 0.006).
    Conclusion: Circulating mucosal-associated invariant T cells were reduced and exhibited an activated phenotype in systemic sclerosis patients. This peripheral mucosal-associated invariant T cell deficiency may be related to enhanced apoptosis and/or homing in inflamed tissue, particularly in systemic sclerosis-interstitial lung disease patients.
    Keywords:  Systemic sclerosis; T cells; interstitial lung disease; mucosal-associated invariant T cells
    DOI:  https://doi.org/10.1177/23971983231209807