MAIT cells contribute to protection against lethal influenza infectionin vivo

• DOI: 10.1101/247205
• Publication Date: 2018-03-23T14:30:39Z
• Authors: Bonnie van Wilgen...; Liyen Loh; Zhenjun Chen; Troi J Pediongco; Huimeng Wang; Mai Shi; Zhe Zhao; Marios Koutsakos; Simone Nüssing; Sneha Sant; Zhongfang Wang; Criselle D’Souza; Catarina F Almeida; Lyudmila Kostenko; Sidonia BG Eckle; Bronwyn S Meehan; Dale I Godfrey; Patrick C Reading; Alexandra J Corbett; James McCluskey; Paul Klenerman; Katherine Kedzierska; Timothy SC Hinks
• Keywords: Adoptive Cell Transfer; Cytokine Storm; Granzyme A; Granzyme

Abstract Mucosal associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are evolutionarily-conserved, innate-like lymphocytes which abundant in human lungs and can contribute to protection against pulmonary bacterial infection. MAIT also activated during viral infections, yet it remains unknown whether play a significant protective or even detrimental role infections vivo . Using murine experimental challenge with two strains of influenza A virus, we show that accumulated were early infection, upregulation CD25, CD69 Granzyme B, peaking at 5 days post Activation was modulated via cytokines independently MR1. cell-deficient MR1 −/− mice showed enhanced weight loss mortality severe (H1N1) influenza. This ameliorated by prior adoptive transfer both immunocompetent immunodeficient RAG2 γC mice. Thus, respiratory constitute potential target for therapeutic manipulation.