Cell Reports
Volume 28, Issue 12, 17 September 2019, Pages 3061-3076.e5
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Article
TCR- or Cytokine-Activated CD8+ Mucosal-Associated Invariant T Cells Are Rapid Polyfunctional Effectors That Can Coordinate Immune Responses

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2019.08.054Get rights and content
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Highlights

  • RNA sequencing of MAIT cells following stimulation via T cell receptor or cytokines

  • TCR and cytokines induce distinct transcriptome with different modes of activation

  • TCR stimuli result in a rapid, polyfunctional, proinflammatory response

  • Cytokine stimulation results in a slower, more restricted response

Summary

Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells can be activated via either their T cell receptor (TCR), which recognizes MR1-bound pyrimidines derived from microbial riboflavin biosynthesis, or via cytokines. These two modes of activation may act in concert or independently, depending upon the stimulus. It is unknown, however, how MAIT cell responses differ with the mode of activation. Here, we define transcriptional and effector responses of human CD8+ MAIT cells to TCR and cytokine stimulation. We report that MAIT cells rapidly respond to TCR stimulation, producing multiple cytokines and chemokines, altering their cytotoxic granule content and transcription factor expression, and upregulating co-stimulatory proteins. In contrast, cytokine-mediated activation is slower and results in a more limited response. Therefore, we propose that, in infections by riboflavin-synthesizing bacteria, MAIT cells play a key early role in effecting and coordinating immune responses, while in the absence of TCR stimulation, their role is likely to differ.

Keywords

mucosal-associated invariant T cells
T cell receptor
interleukin-12
interleukin-18
activation
effector functions
transcriptome
transcription factors

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