bims-maitce 2024-04-28 papers

Issue of 2024–04–28
two papers selected by
Andy E. Hogan, Maynooth University

Int Immunopharmacol. 2024 Apr 24. pii: S1567-5769(24)00410-7. [Epub ahead of print]133 111892

The quantity, function and anti-tumor effect of Mucosal associated invariant T cells in patients with bladder cancer.

Baodan Zhang, Pengcheng Chen, Jie Zhu, Yongyong Lu.

BACKGROUND: Bladder cancer (BC), a prevalent malignancy in the urinary system, often poses challenges for effective treatment. Immunotherapy, harnessing the immune system, has exhibited promise in early-stage clinical trials. Mucosal associated invariant T (MAIT) cells, a subset of immune cells implicated in various diseases, including certain cancer, have yet to be explored in BC patients. We aimed to investigate the quantity, function, and anti-tumor effects of MAIT cells in BC patients.
METHODS: A total of 75 newly diagnosed BC patients and 183 healthy volunteers were included. Blood samples were collected and analyzed to evaluate the quantity and function of MAIT cells. Surgical resection provided BC tissues for further analysis, and the clinical features of BC tumors were collected and their relationship with MAIT cells was explored.
RESULTS: MAIT cells were identified in both healthy individuals and BC patients. The proportion of MAIT cells in the peripheral blood of BC patients did not significantly differ from that of healthy controls. However, the study revealed a correlation between the proportion of IFN-γ producing MAIT cells and tumor number and invasion in BC patients. Furthermore, MAIT cells exhibited cytotoxic effects on BC cells in vitro and in vivo.
CONCLUSIONS: This study sheds light on the role of MAIT cells in BC. While the quantity of MAIT cells showed no significant change in BC patients, their functional attributes and association with tumor characteristics suggest their potential as an immunotherapy target in BC treatment.

Keywords: Anti-tumor; Bladder cancer; IFN-γ; Mucosa associated constant T cells

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intimp.2024.111892

Nutrients. 2024 Apr 22. pii: 1245. [Epub ahead of print]16(8):

Short-Term Dietary Restriction Potentiates an Anti-Inflammatory Circulating Mucosal-Associated Invariant T-Cell Response.

Brian Fazzone, Erik M Anderson, Jared M Rozowsky, Xuanxuan Yu, Kerri A O'Malley, Scott Robinson, Salvatore T Scali, Guoshuai Cai, Scott A Berceli.

Short-term protein-calorie dietary restriction (StDR) is a promising preoperative strategy for modulating postoperative inflammation. We have previously shown marked gut microbial activity during StDR, but relationships between StDR, the gut microbiome, and systemic immunity remain poorly understood. Mucosal-associated invariant T-cells (MAITs) are enriched on mucosal surfaces and in circulation, bridge innate and adaptive immunity, are sensitive to gut microbial changes, and may mediate systemic responses to StDR. Herein, we characterized the MAIT transcriptomic response to StDR using single-cell RNA sequencing of human PBMCs and evaluated gut microbial species-level changes through sequencing of stool samples. Healthy volunteers underwent 4 days of DR during which blood and stool samples were collected before, during, and after DR. MAITs composed 2.4% of PBMCs. More MAIT genes were differentially downregulated during DR, particularly genes associated with MAIT activation (CD69), regulation of pro-inflammatory signaling (IL1, IL6, IL10, TNFα), and T-cell co-stimulation (CD40/CD40L, CD28), whereas genes associated with anti-inflammatory IL10 signaling were upregulated. Stool analysis showed a decreased abundance of multiple MAIT-stimulating Bacteroides species during DR. The analyses suggest that StDR potentiates an anti-inflammatory MAIT immunophenotype through modulation of TCR-dependent signaling, potentially secondary to gut microbial species-level changes.

Keywords: MAITs; immune response; inflammation; mucosal-associated invariant T-cells; short-term dietary restriction

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16081245