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Edmans MD, Connelley TK, Morgan S, Pediongco TJ, Jayaraman S, Juno JA, Meehan BS, Dewar PM, Maze EA, Roos EO, Paudyal B, Mak JYW, Liu L, Fairlie DP, Wang H, Corbett AJ, McCluskey J, Benedictus L, Tchilian E, Klenerman P, Eckle SBG. MAIT cell-MR1 reactivity is highly conserved across multiple divergent species. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:107338. [PMID: 38705391 PMCID: PMC11190491 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.107338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are a subset of unconventional T cells that recognize small molecule metabolites presented by major histocompatibility complex class I related protein 1 (MR1), via an αβ T cell receptor (TCR). MAIT TCRs feature an essentially invariant TCR α-chain, which is highly conserved between mammals. Similarly, MR1 is the most highly conserved major histocompatibility complex-I-like molecule. This extreme conservation, including the mode of interaction between the MAIT TCR and MR1, has been shown to allow for species-mismatched reactivities unique in T cell biology, thereby allowing the use of selected species-mismatched MR1-antigen (MR1-Ag) tetramers in comparative immunology studies. However, the pattern of cross-reactivity of species-mismatched MR1-Ag tetramers in identifying MAIT cells in diverse species has not been formally assessed. We developed novel cattle and pig MR1-Ag tetramers and utilized these alongside previously developed human, mouse, and pig-tailed macaque MR1-Ag tetramers to characterize cross-species tetramer reactivities. MR1-Ag tetramers from each species identified T cell populations in distantly related species with specificity that was comparable to species-matched MR1-Ag tetramers. However, there were subtle differences in staining characteristics with practical implications for the accurate identification of MAIT cells. Pig MR1 is sufficiently conserved across species that pig MR1-Ag tetramers identified MAIT cells from the other species. However, MAIT cells in pigs were at the limits of phenotypic detection. In the absence of sheep MR1-Ag tetramers, a MAIT cell population in sheep blood was identified phenotypically, utilizing species-mismatched MR1-Ag tetramers. Collectively, our results validate the use and define the limitations of species-mismatched MR1-Ag tetramers in comparative immunology studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew D Edmans
- Department of Enhanced Host Responses, The Pirbright Institute, Pirbright, United Kingdom; Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.
| | - Timothy K Connelley
- Division of Infection and Immunity, The Roslin Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Roslin, United Kingdom
| | - Sophie Morgan
- Department of Enhanced Host Responses, The Pirbright Institute, Pirbright, United Kingdom
| | - Troi J Pediongco
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Siddharth Jayaraman
- Division of Infection and Immunity, The Roslin Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Roslin, United Kingdom
| | - Jennifer A Juno
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Bronwyn S Meehan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Phoebe M Dewar
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Emmanuel A Maze
- Department of Enhanced Host Responses, The Pirbright Institute, Pirbright, United Kingdom
| | - Eduard O Roos
- Department of Enhanced Host Responses, The Pirbright Institute, Pirbright, United Kingdom
| | - Basudev Paudyal
- Department of Enhanced Host Responses, The Pirbright Institute, Pirbright, United Kingdom
| | - Jeffrey Y W Mak
- Centre for Chemistry and Drug Discovery, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Ligong Liu
- Centre for Chemistry and Drug Discovery, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - David P Fairlie
- Centre for Chemistry and Drug Discovery, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Huimeng Wang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Alexandra J Corbett
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - James McCluskey
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Lindert Benedictus
- Division of Infection and Immunity, The Roslin Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Roslin, United Kingdom; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Population Health Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Elma Tchilian
- Department of Enhanced Host Responses, The Pirbright Institute, Pirbright, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Klenerman
- Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Sidonia B G Eckle
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
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2
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Konecny AJ, Huang Y, Setty M, Prlic M. Signals that control MAIT cell function in healthy and inflamed human tissues. Immunol Rev 2024; 323:138-149. [PMID: 38520075 DOI: 10.1111/imr.13325] [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] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells have a semi-invariant T-cell receptor that allows recognition of antigen in the context of the MHC class I-related (MR1) protein. Metabolic intermediates of the riboflavin synthesis pathway have been identified as MR1-restricted antigens with agonist properties. As riboflavin synthesis occurs in many bacterial species, but not human cells, it has been proposed that the main purpose of MAIT cells is antibacterial surveillance and protection. The majority of human MAIT cells secrete interferon-gamma (IFNg) upon activation, while some MAIT cells in tissues can also express IL-17. Given that MAIT cells are present in human barrier tissues colonized by a microbiome, MAIT cells must somehow be able to distinguish colonization from infection to ensure effector functions are only elicited when necessary. Importantly, MAIT cells have additional functional properties, including the potential to contribute to restoring tissue homeostasis by expression of CTLA-4 and secretion of the cytokine IL-22. A recent study provided compelling data indicating that the range of human MAIT cell functional properties is explained by plasticity rather than distinct lineages. This further underscores the necessity to better understand how different signals regulate MAIT cell function. In this review, we highlight what is known in regards to activating and inhibitory signals for MAIT cells with a specific focus on signals relevant to healthy and inflamed tissues. We consider the quantity, quality, and the temporal order of these signals on MAIT cell function and discuss the current limitations of computational tools to extrapolate which signals are received by MAIT cells in human tissues. Using lessons learned from conventional CD8 T cells, we also discuss how TCR signals may integrate with cytokine signals in MAIT cells to elicit distinct functional states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J Konecny
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Immunology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Yin Huang
- Basic Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Herbold Computational Biology Program, Public Health Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Manu Setty
- Basic Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Herbold Computational Biology Program, Public Health Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Martin Prlic
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Immunology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
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3
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Cornel AM, van der Sman L, van Dinter JT, Arrabito M, Dunnebach E, van Hoesel M, Kluiver TA, Lopes AP, Dautzenberg NMM, Dekker L, van Rijn JM, van den Beemt DAMH, Buhl JL, du Chatinier A, Barneh F, Lu Y, Lo Nigro L, Krippner-Heidenreich A, Sebestyén Z, Kuball J, Hulleman E, Drost J, van Heesch S, Heidenreich OT, Peng WC, Nierkens S. Targeting pediatric cancers via T-cell recognition of the monomorphic MHC class I-related protein MR1. J Immunother Cancer 2024; 12:e007538. [PMID: 38519054 PMCID: PMC10961533 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2023-007538] [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] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 03/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) restriction of conventional T-cell targeting introduces complexity in generating T-cell therapy strategies for patients with cancer with diverse HLA-backgrounds. A subpopulation of atypical, major histocompatibility complex-I related protein 1 (MR1)-restricted T-cells, distinctive from mucosal-associated invariant T-cells (MAITs), was recently identified recognizing currently unidentified MR1-presented cancer-specific metabolites. It is hypothesized that the MC.7.G5 MR1T-clone has potential as a pan-cancer, pan-population T-cell immunotherapy approach. These cells are irresponsive to healthy tissue while conferring T-cell receptor(TCR) dependent, HLA-independent cytotoxicity to a wide range of adult cancers. Studies so far are limited to adult malignancies. Here, we investigated the potential of MR1-targeting cellular therapy strategies in pediatric cancer. Bulk RNA sequencing data of primary pediatric tumors were analyzed to assess MR1 expression. In vitro pediatric tumor models were subsequently screened to evaluate their susceptibility to engineered MC.7.G5 TCR-expressing T-cells. Targeting capacity was correlated with qPCR-based MR1 mRNA and protein overexpression. RNA expression of MR1 in primary pediatric tumors varied widely within and between tumor entities. Notably, embryonal tumors exhibited significantly lower MR1 expression than other pediatric tumors. In line with this, most screened embryonal tumors displayed resistance to MR1T-targeting in vitro MR1T susceptibility was observed particularly in pediatric leukemia and diffuse midline glioma models. This study demonstrates potential of MC.7.G5 MR1T-cell immunotherapy in pediatric leukemias and diffuse midline glioma, while activity against embryonal tumors was limited. The dismal prognosis associated with relapsed/refractory leukemias and high-grade brain tumors highlights the promise to improve survival rates of children with these cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annelisa M Cornel
- Prinses Maxima Centrum voor Kinderoncologie, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Center for Translational Immunology, UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Loutje van der Sman
- Prinses Maxima Centrum voor Kinderoncologie, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Center for Translational Immunology, UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jip T van Dinter
- Center for Translational Immunology, UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Marta Arrabito
- Center for Translational Immunology, UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Center of Pediatric Hematology & Oncology, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Ester Dunnebach
- Prinses Maxima Centrum voor Kinderoncologie, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Center for Translational Immunology, UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | | | - Thomas A Kluiver
- Prinses Maxima Centrum voor Kinderoncologie, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Ana P Lopes
- Prinses Maxima Centrum voor Kinderoncologie, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | | | - Linde Dekker
- Center for Translational Immunology, UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jorik M van Rijn
- Center for Translational Immunology, UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | | | - Juliane L Buhl
- Center for Translational Immunology, UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Aimee du Chatinier
- Center for Translational Immunology, UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Farnaz Barneh
- Center for Translational Immunology, UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Yuyan Lu
- Center for Translational Immunology, UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Luca Lo Nigro
- Center of Pediatric Hematology & Oncology, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | | | - Zsolt Sebestyén
- Prinses Maxima Centrum voor Kinderoncologie, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jurgen Kuball
- Prinses Maxima Centrum voor Kinderoncologie, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Hematology, UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Esther Hulleman
- Center for Translational Immunology, UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jarno Drost
- Center for Translational Immunology, UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Oncode Institute, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | | | - Olaf T Heidenreich
- Center for Translational Immunology, UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Weng Chuan Peng
- Center for Translational Immunology, UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Stefan Nierkens
- Prinses Maxima Centrum voor Kinderoncologie, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Center for Translational Immunology, UMC Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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4
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McWilliam HEG, Villadangos JA. MR1 antigen presentation to MAIT cells and other MR1-restricted T cells. Nat Rev Immunol 2024; 24:178-192. [PMID: 37773272 PMCID: PMC11108705 DOI: 10.1038/s41577-023-00934-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/01/2023]
Abstract
MHC antigen presentation plays a fundamental role in adaptive and semi-invariant T cell immunity. Distinct MHC molecules bind antigens that differ in chemical structure, origin and location and present them to specialized T cells. MHC class I-related protein 1 (MR1) presents a range of small molecule antigens to MR1-restricted T (MR1T) lymphocytes. The best studied MR1 ligands are derived from microbial metabolism and are recognized by a major class of MR1T cells known as mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells. Here, we describe the MR1 antigen presentation pathway: the known types of antigens presented by MR1, the location where MR1-antigen complexes form, the route followed by the complexes to the cell surface, the mechanisms involved in termination of MR1 antigen presentation and the accessory cellular proteins that comprise the MR1 antigen presentation machinery. The current road map of the MR1 antigen presentation pathway reveals potential strategies for therapeutic manipulation of MR1T cell function and provides a foundation for further studies that will lead to a deeper understanding of MR1-mediated immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamish E G McWilliam
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
| | - Jose A Villadangos
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
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Awad W, Ciacchi L, McCluskey J, Fairlie DP, Rossjohn J. Molecular insights into metabolite antigen recognition by mucosal-associated invariant T cells. Curr Opin Immunol 2023; 83:102351. [PMID: 37276819 PMCID: PMC11056607 DOI: 10.1016/j.coi.2023.102351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2022] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Metabolite-based T-cell immunity is emerging as a major player in antimicrobial immunity, autoimmunity, and cancer. Here, small-molecule metabolites were identified to be captured and presented by the major histocompatibility complex class-I-related molecule (MR1) to T cells, namely mucosal-associated invariant T cells (MAIT) and diverse MR1-restricted T cells. Both MR1 and MAIT are evolutionarily conserved in many mammals, suggesting important roles in host immunity. Rational chemical modifications of these naturally occurring metabolites, termed altered metabolite ligands (AMLs), have advanced our understanding of the molecular correlates of MAIT T cell receptor (TCR)-MR1 recognition. This review provides a generalized framework for metabolite recognition and modulation of MAIT cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wael Awad
- Infection and Immunity Program and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia.
| | - Lisa Ciacchi
- Infection and Immunity Program and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - James McCluskey
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria 3000, Australia
| | - David P Fairlie
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Jamie Rossjohn
- Infection and Immunity Program and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia; Institute of Infection and Immunity, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK.
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6
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Harly C, Robert J, Legoux F, Lantz O. γδ T, NKT, and MAIT Cells During Evolution: Redundancy or Specialized Functions? JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2022; 209:217-225. [PMID: 35821101 PMCID: PMC7613099 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2200105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 04/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Innate-like T cells display characteristics of both innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) and mainstream αβ T cells, leading to overlapping functions of innate-like T cells with both subsets. In this review, we show that although innate-like T cells are probably present in all vertebrates, their main characteristics are much better known in amphibians and mammals. Innate-like T cells encompass both γδ and αβ T cells. In mammals, γδ TCRs likely coevolved with molecules of the butyrophilin family they interact with, whereas the semi-invariant TCRs of iNKT and mucosal-associated invariant T cells are evolutionarily locked with their restricting MH1b molecules, CD1d and MR1, respectively. The strong conservation of the Ag recognition systems of innate-like T cell subsets despite similar effector potentialities supports that each one fulfills nonredundant roles related to their Ag specificity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christelle Harly
- Nantes Université, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale UMR1307, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR6075, Université d'Angers, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie et Immunologie Intégrée Nantes Angers CRCI2NA, Nantes, France;
- LabEx Immunotherapy, Graft, Oncology, Nantes, France
| | - Jacques Robert
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY
| | - Francois Legoux
- INSERM U932, Paris Sciences et Lettres Université, Institut Curie, Paris, France
| | - Olivier Lantz
- INSERM U932, Paris Sciences et Lettres Université, Institut Curie, Paris, France;
- Laboratoire d'Immunologie Clinique, Institut Curie, Paris, France; and
- Centre d'Investigation Clinique en Biothérapie Gustave-Roussy Institut Curie (CIC-BT1428), Paris, France
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