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Chen S, Wu X, Yang Y, Xu X, Xiong X, Meng W. Increased pathogenicity and pro-inflammatory capabilities of mucosal-associated invariant T cells involved in Oral Lichen Planus. BMC Oral Health 2024; 24:829. [PMID: 39039547 PMCID: PMC11264365 DOI: 10.1186/s12903-024-04621-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2024] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells assume pivotal roles in numerous autoimmune inflammatory maladies. However, scant knowledge exists regarding their involvement in the pathological progression of oral lichen planus (OLP). The focus of our study was to explore whether MAIT cells were altered across distinct clinical types of OLP. METHODS The frequency, phenotype, and partial functions of MAIT cells were performed by flow cytometry, using peripheral blood from 18 adults with non-erosive OLP and 22 adults with erosive OLP compared with 15 healthy adults. We also studied the changes in MAIT cells in 15 OLP patients receiving and 10 not receiving corticosteroids. Surface proteins including CD4, CD8, CD69, CD103, CD38, HLA-DR, Tim-3, Programmed Death Molecule-1 (PD-1), and related factors released by MAIT cells such as Granzyme B (GzB), interferon (IFN)-γ, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-17A, and IL-22 were detected. RESULTS Within non-erosive OLP patients, MAIT cells manifested an activated phenotype, evident in an elevated frequency of CD69+ CD38+ MAIT cells (p < 0.01). Conversely, erosive OLP patients displayed an activation and depletion phenotype in MAIT cells, typified by elevated CD69 (p < 0.01), CD103 (p < 0.05), and PD-1 expression (p < 0.01). Additionally, MAIT cells exhibited heightened cytokine production, encompassing GzB, IFN-γ, and IL-17A in erosive OLP patients. Notably, the proportion of CD103+ MAIT cells (p < 0.05) and GzB secretion (p < 0.01) by MAIT cells diminished, while the proportion of CD8+ MAIT cells (p < 0.05) rose in OLP patients with corticosteroid therapy. CONCLUSIONS MAIT cells exhibit increased pathogenicity and pro-inflammatory capabilities in OLP. Corticosteroid therapy influences the expression of certain phenotypes and functions of MAIT cells in the peripheral blood of OLP patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siting Chen
- Departments of Oral Medicine, Stomatological Hospital, School of Stomatology, Southern Medical University NO.366, Jiangnan Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510280, P.R. China
| | - Xiaoli Wu
- Departments of Oral Medicine, Stomatological Hospital, School of Stomatology, Southern Medical University NO.366, Jiangnan Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510280, P.R. China
| | - Yinshen Yang
- Departments of Oral Medicine, Stomatological Hospital, School of Stomatology, Southern Medical University NO.366, Jiangnan Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510280, P.R. China
| | - Xiaoheng Xu
- Departments of Oral Medicine, Stomatological Hospital, School of Stomatology, Southern Medical University NO.366, Jiangnan Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510280, P.R. China
| | - Xiaoqin Xiong
- Departments of Oral Medicine, Stomatological Hospital, School of Stomatology, Southern Medical University NO.366, Jiangnan Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510280, P.R. China
| | - Wenxia Meng
- Departments of Oral Medicine, Stomatological Hospital, School of Stomatology, Southern Medical University NO.366, Jiangnan Road, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, 510280, P.R. China.
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Kumar V, Bauer C, Stewart JH. TIME Is Ticking for Cervical Cancer. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:941. [PMID: 37508372 PMCID: PMC10376148 DOI: 10.3390/biology12070941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
Cervical cancer (CC) is a major health problem among reproductive-age females and comprises a leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the major risk factor associated with CC incidence. However, lifestyle is also a critical factor in CC pathogenesis. Despite HPV vaccination introduction, the incidence of CC is increasing worldwide. Therefore, it becomes critical to understand the CC tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) to develop immune cell-based vaccination and immunotherapeutic approaches. The current article discusses the immune environment in the normal cervix of adult females and its role in HPV infection. The subsequent sections discuss the alteration of different immune cells comprising CC TIME and their targeting as future therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vijay Kumar
- Department of Interdisciplinary Oncology, Stanley S. Scott Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Science Center (LSUHSC), 1700 Tulane Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70012, USA
| | - Caitlin Bauer
- Department of Interdisciplinary Oncology, Stanley S. Scott Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Science Center (LSUHSC), 1700 Tulane Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70012, USA
| | - John H Stewart
- Department of Interdisciplinary Oncology, Stanley S. Scott Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Science Center (LSUHSC), 1700 Tulane Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70012, USA
- Louisiana Children's Medical Center Cancer Center, Stanley S. Scott Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Science Center (LSUHSC), 1700 Tulane Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70012, USA
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3
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MAIT cells and their implication in human oral diseases. Inflamm Res 2022; 71:1041-1054. [PMID: 35781343 DOI: 10.1007/s00011-022-01600-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Revised: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are unique innate-like T cells that are abundant in humans, accounting for 1-10% of circulating T cells and about 2% of total T cells in human oral cavity. MAIT cells can mount a strong immune response quickly without exogenous antigens and undergo a phenotypic transformation in the development of diseases. They produce cytokines involved in the Th1 and Th17 immune response and cytotoxic proteins, promote the dysfunction of autoreactive B cell and inhibit the function of NK cells. MAIT cells have been widely explored in autoimmune diseases, inflammatory diseases and tumors, and these mechanisms may also be involved in the pathogenesis of some oral diseases, while MAIT cells have not been systematically discussed in oral diseases. METHODS We searched PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE and Microsoft Bing databases to review and analyze relevant literatures on the impact of MAIT cells in the pathogenesis of human oral diseases. CONCLUSION Collected evidence elucidated the characteristics of MAIT cells and emphasized the potential roles of MAIT cells in oral lichen planus (OLP), chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD), oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), apical periodontitis (AP) and primary Sjogren's syndrome (pSS).
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Ruf B, Catania VV, Wabitsch S, Ma C, Diggs LP, Zhang Q, Heinrich B, Subramanyam V, Cui LL, Pouzolles M, Evans CN, Chari R, Sakai S, Oh S, Barry CE, Barber DL, Greten TF. Activating Mucosal-Associated Invariant T Cells Induces a Broad Antitumor Response. Cancer Immunol Res 2021; 9:1024-1034. [PMID: 34193462 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-20-0925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2020] [Revised: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are MR1-restricted innate-like T cells that recognize non-peptide antigens including riboflavin derivates. Although in vitro-activated MAIT cells show antitumor activity, the in vivo role of MAIT cells in cancer is still unclear. Here, we have shown that MAIT cells have antitumor function in vivo when activated by a combination of the synthetic riboflavin synthesis pathway-derived antigen 5-OP-RU [5-(2-oxopropylideneamino)-6-D-ribitylaminouracil] and the Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) agonist CpG. Coadministration of 5-OP-RU and CpG induced strong systemic in vivo expansion and activation of MAIT cells with high CD69 expression, pronounced effector memory phenotype, and upregulated levels of effector molecules including IFNγ, granzyme B, and perforin. Activated and expanded MAITs induced a potent and broad antitumor immune response in murine models of liver metastasis and hepatocellular carcinoma, lung metastasis, and subcutaneous tumors in two different mouse strains. Such tumor inhibition was absent in MAIT-deficient Mr1 -/- mice. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated MR1 knockout in tumor cells did not affect efficacy of this MAIT-directed immunotherapy, pointing toward an indirect mechanism of action. Our findings suggest that MAIT cells are an attractive target for cancer immunotherapy.See related Spotlight by Lantz, p. 996.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Ruf
- Gastrointestinal Malignancy Section, Thoracic and Gastrointestinal Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Vanessa V Catania
- Gastrointestinal Malignancy Section, Thoracic and Gastrointestinal Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Simon Wabitsch
- Gastrointestinal Malignancy Section, Thoracic and Gastrointestinal Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Chi Ma
- Gastrointestinal Malignancy Section, Thoracic and Gastrointestinal Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Laurence P Diggs
- Gastrointestinal Malignancy Section, Thoracic and Gastrointestinal Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Qianfei Zhang
- Gastrointestinal Malignancy Section, Thoracic and Gastrointestinal Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Bernd Heinrich
- Gastrointestinal Malignancy Section, Thoracic and Gastrointestinal Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Varun Subramanyam
- Gastrointestinal Malignancy Section, Thoracic and Gastrointestinal Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Linda L Cui
- Gastrointestinal Malignancy Section, Thoracic and Gastrointestinal Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Marie Pouzolles
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Christine N Evans
- Genome Modification Core, Frederick National Lab for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland
| | - Raj Chari
- Genome Modification Core, Frederick National Lab for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland
| | - Shunsuke Sakai
- T Lymphocyte Biology Section, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Sangmi Oh
- Tuberculosis Research Section, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Clifton E Barry
- Tuberculosis Research Section, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Daniel L Barber
- T Lymphocyte Biology Section, Laboratory of Parasitic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Tim F Greten
- Gastrointestinal Malignancy Section, Thoracic and Gastrointestinal Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland. .,NCI CCR Liver Cancer Program, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
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Ruf B, Heinrich B, Greten TF. Immunobiology and immunotherapy of HCC: spotlight on innate and innate-like immune cells. Cell Mol Immunol 2021; 18:112-127. [PMID: 33235387 PMCID: PMC7852696 DOI: 10.1038/s41423-020-00572-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 154] [Impact Index Per Article: 51.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Immune-based therapies such as immune checkpoint inhibitors have revolutionized the systemic treatment of various cancer types. The therapeutic application of monoclonal antibodies targeting inhibitory pathways such as programmed cell death-1(PD-1)/programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) and CTLA-4 to cells of the adaptive immune system has recently been shown to generate meaningful improvement in the clinical outcome of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Nevertheless, current immunotherapeutic approaches induce durable responses in only a subset of HCC patients. Since immunologic mechanisms such as chronic inflammation due to chronic viral hepatitis or alcoholic and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease play a crucial role in the initiation, development, and progression of HCC, it is important to understand the underlying mechanisms shaping the unique tumor microenvironment of liver cancer. The liver is an immunologic organ with large populations of innate and innate-like immune cells and is exposed to bacterial, viral, and fungal antigens through the gut-liver axis. Here, we summarize and highlight the role of these cells in liver cancer and propose strategies to therapeutically target them. We also discuss current immunotherapeutic strategies in HCC and outline recent advances in our understanding of how the therapeutic potential of these agents might be enhanced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Ruf
- Gastrointestinal Malignancy Section, Thoracic and Gastrointestinal Malignancies Branch, Centre for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Bernd Heinrich
- Gastrointestinal Malignancy Section, Thoracic and Gastrointestinal Malignancies Branch, Centre for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Tim F Greten
- Gastrointestinal Malignancy Section, Thoracic and Gastrointestinal Malignancies Branch, Centre for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA.
- NCI CCR Liver Cancer Program, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA.
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Corbett AJ, Awad W, Wang H, Chen Z. Antigen Recognition by MR1-Reactive T Cells; MAIT Cells, Metabolites, and Remaining Mysteries. Front Immunol 2020; 11:1961. [PMID: 32973800 PMCID: PMC7482426 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.01961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Mucosal-associated Invariant T (MAIT) cells recognize vitamin B-based antigens presented by the non-polymorphic MHC class I related-1 molecule (MR1). Both MAIT T cell receptors (TCR) and MR1 are highly conserved among mammals, suggesting an important, and conserved, immune function. For many years, the antigens they recognize were unknown. The discovery that MR1 presents vitamin B-based small molecule ligands resulted in a rapid expansion of research in this area, which has yielded information on the role of MAIT cells in immune protection, autoimmune disease and recently in homeostasis and cancer. More recently, we have begun to appreciate the diverse nature of the small molecule ligands that can bind MR1, with several less potent antigens and small molecule drugs that can bind MR1 being identified. Complementary structural information has revealed the complex nature of interactions defining antigen recognition. Additionally, we now view MAIT cells (defined here as MR1-riboflavin-Ag reactive, TRAV1-2+ cells) as one subset of a broader family of MR1-reactive T cells (MR1T cells). Despite these advances, we still lack a complete understanding of how MR1 ligands are generated, presented and recognized in vivo. The biological relevance of these MR1 ligands and the function of MR1T cells in infection and disease warrants further investigation with new tools and approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra J. Corbett
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Wael Awad
- Infection and Immunity Program and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Huimeng Wang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhenjun Chen
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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Yao T, Shooshtari P, Haeryfar SMM. Leveraging Public Single-Cell and Bulk Transcriptomic Datasets to Delineate MAIT Cell Roles and Phenotypic Characteristics in Human Malignancies. Front Immunol 2020; 11:1691. [PMID: 32849590 PMCID: PMC7413026 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.01691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2020] [Accepted: 06/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Mucosa-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are unconventional, innate-like T lymphocytes that recognize vitamin B metabolites of microbial origin among other antigens displayed by the monomorphic molecule MHC class I-related protein 1 (MR1). Abundant in human tissues, reactive to local inflammatory cues, and endowed with immunomodulatory and cytolytic functions, MAIT cells are likely to play key roles in human malignancies. They accumulate in various tumor microenvironments (TMEs) where they often lose some of their functional capacities. However, the potential roles of MAIT cells in anticancer immunity or cancer progression and their significance in shaping clinical outcomes remain largely unknown. In this study, we analyzed publicly available bulk and single-cell tumor transcriptomic datasets to investigate the tissue distribution, phenotype, and prognostic significance of MAIT cells across several human cancers. We found that expanded MAIT cell clonotypes were often shared between the blood, tumor tissue and adjacent healthy tissue of patients with colorectal, hepatocellular, and non-small cell lung carcinomas. Gene expression comparisons between tumor-infiltrating and healthy tissue MAIT cells revealed the presence of activation and/or exhaustion programs within the TMEs of primary hepatocellular and colorectal carcinomas. Interestingly, in basal and squamous cell carcinomas of the skin, programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) blockade upregulated the expression of several effector genes in tumor-infiltrating MAIT cells. We derived a signature comprising stable and specific MAIT cell gene markers across several tissue compartments and cancer types. By applying this signature to estimate MAIT cell abundance in pan-cancer gene expression data, we demonstrate that a heavier intratumoral MAIT cell presence is positively correlated with a favorable prognosis in esophageal carcinoma but predicts poor overall survival in colorectal and squamous cell lung carcinomas. Finally, in colorectal carcinoma and four other cancer types, we found a positive correlation between MR1 expression and estimated MAIT cell abundance. Collectively, our findings indicate that MAIT cells serve important but diverse roles in human cancers. Our work provides useful models and resources that employ gene expression data platforms to enable future studies in the realm of MAIT cell biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tony Yao
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Western University, London, ON, Canada
| | - Parisa Shooshtari
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Western University, London, ON, Canada.,Lawson Health Research Institute, London Health Sciences Centre, London, ON, Canada
| | - S M Mansour Haeryfar
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Western University, London, ON, Canada.,Lawson Health Research Institute, London Health Sciences Centre, London, ON, Canada.,Division of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, Department of Medicine, Western University, London, ON, Canada.,Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Western University, London, ON, Canada.,Centre for Human Immunology, Western University, London, ON, Canada
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Berzins SP, Wallace ME, Kannourakis G, Kelly J. A Role for MAIT Cells in Colorectal Cancer. Front Immunol 2020; 11:949. [PMID: 32508830 PMCID: PMC7251153 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.00949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2020] [Accepted: 04/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
MAIT cells are MR1-restricted T cells that are well-known for their anti-microbial properties, but they have recently been associated with different forms of cancer. Several studies have reported activated MAIT cells within the microenvironment of colorectal tumors, but there is conjecture about the nature of their response and whether they are contributing to anti-tumor immunity, or to the progression of the disease. We have reviewed the current state of knowledge about the role of MAIT cells in colorectal cancer, including their likely influence when activated and potential sources of stimulation in the tumor microenvironment. The prospects for MAIT cells being used in clinical settings as biomarkers or as targets of new immunotherapies designed to harness their function are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stuart P Berzins
- Fiona Elsey Cancer Research Institute, Ballarat, VIC, Australia.,Federation University Australia, Mount Helen, VIC, Australia.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Morgan E Wallace
- Fiona Elsey Cancer Research Institute, Ballarat, VIC, Australia.,Federation University Australia, Mount Helen, VIC, Australia
| | - George Kannourakis
- Fiona Elsey Cancer Research Institute, Ballarat, VIC, Australia.,Federation University Australia, Mount Helen, VIC, Australia
| | - Jason Kelly
- Fiona Elsey Cancer Research Institute, Ballarat, VIC, Australia.,Federation University Australia, Mount Helen, VIC, Australia
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