Liver transplant-facilitated CD161+Vα7.2+ MAIT cell recovery demonstrates clinical benefits in hepatic failure patients

• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-59308-x
• Publication Date: 2025-04-29T15:19:25Z
• Authors: Wei Wang; Chen Dai; Peng Zhu; Mi Wu; Haoquan Zhang; Qing Wei; Ting Zhou; Xiaosheng Tan; Ying Jiang; Xue Cheng; Zhihui Liang; Xiongwen Wu; Zhishui Chen; Xiufang Weng

Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells exert multifaceted effects such as anti-microbial activity, tissue repair, and pro-fibrotic across various disease settings. Nonetheless, their role in liver injury hemostasis remains debated. Here, we report a significant depletion functional dysregulation of MAIT cells, which is associated with severity accumulated bile acids HBV-infected patients varying degree injury. Liver transplantation facilitates gradual recovery recipient-originated cells. Transcriptome analysis reveals enhanced cell activation, while TCR mining demonstrates clonotype overlap between circulating hepatic during TCR-activated from transplant recipients display higher protective capacity but reduced pathological potential than those failure patients. Compromised linked to post-transplantation complications, whereas prompt predicates favorable clinical outcome. These findings underscore the intricate interplay environment, highlighting therapeutic targets sensitive predictors for outcome individuals experiencing post transplantation.