Expansion of MAIT cells in the combined absence of NKT and γδ-T cells

• DOI: 10.1016/j.mucimm.2023.05.003
• Publication Date: 2023-05-13T01:29:24Z
• Authors: Calvin Xu; Shihan Li; Thomas S Fulford; Susan N Christo; Laura K Mackay; Daniel HD Gray; Adam P Uldrich; Daniel G Pellicci; Dale I Godfrey; Hui-Fern Koay
• Keywords: Homing (biology); CD1

Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells, natural killer (NKT) and γδT cells are collectively referred to as 'unconventional cells' due their recognition of non-peptide antigens restriction MHC-I-like molecules. However, the factors controlling widely variable frequencies between individuals organs poorly understood. We demonstrated that MAIT increased in NKT or cell-deficient mice highly expand lacking both cell types. TCRα repertoire analysis thymocytes revealed altered Trav segment usage relative wild-type thymocytes, highlighting retention Tcra-Tcrd locus from 129 mouse strain used generate Tcrd−/− mice. This resulted a moderate increase distal usage, including Trav1, potentially contributing generation Trav1-Traj33+ thymus. Importantly, adoptively transferred underwent homeostatic proliferation within NKT/gdT tissues, with subsets exhibiting tissue-specific homing patterns. Our data reveal shared niche for unconventional where competition common may be exploited modulate these immune response. Lastly, our findings emphasise careful assessment studies using when investigating role disease.