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Amini A, Klenerman P, Provine NM. Role of mucosal-associated invariant T cells in coronavirus disease 2019 vaccine immunogenicity. Curr Opin Virol 2024; 67:101412. [PMID: 38838550 DOI: 10.1016/j.coviro.2024.101412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2024] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are an unconventional T cell population that are highly abundant in humans. They possess a semi-invariant T cell receptor (TCR) that recognises microbial metabolites formed during riboflavin biosynthesis, presented on a nonpolymorphic MHC-like molecule MR1. MAIT cells possess an array of effector functions, including type 1, type 17, and tissue repair activity. Deployment of these functions depends on the stimuli they receive through their TCR and/or cytokine receptors. Strong cytokine signalling, such as in response to vaccination, can bypass TCR triggering and provokes a strong proinflammatory response. Although data are still emerging, multiple aspects of MAIT cell biology are associated with modulation of immunity induced by the coronavirus disease 2019 mRNA and adenovirus vector vaccines. In this review, we will address how MAIT cells may play a role in immunogenicity of vaccines against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and how these cells can be harnessed as cellular adjuvants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Amini
- Translational Gastroenterology Unit, Nuffield Department of Medicine - Experimental Medicine, University of Oxford, UK
| | - Paul Klenerman
- Translational Gastroenterology Unit, Nuffield Department of Medicine - Experimental Medicine, University of Oxford, UK; Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, UK; Pandemic Sciences Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, UK.
| | - Nicholas M Provine
- Pandemic Sciences Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, UK; Centre for Human Genetics, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, UK.
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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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Al-Talib M, Dimonte S, Humphreys IR. Mucosal T-cell responses to chronic viral infections: Implications for vaccine design. Cell Mol Immunol 2024:10.1038/s41423-024-01140-2. [PMID: 38459243 DOI: 10.1038/s41423-024-01140-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 03/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Mucosal surfaces that line the respiratory, gastrointestinal and genitourinary tracts are the major interfaces between the immune system and the environment. Their unique immunological landscape is characterized by the necessity of balancing tolerance to commensal microorganisms and other innocuous exposures against protection from pathogenic threats such as viruses. Numerous pathogenic viruses, including herpesviruses and retroviruses, exploit this environment to establish chronic infection. Effector and regulatory T-cell populations, including effector and resident memory T cells, play instrumental roles in mediating the transition from acute to chronic infection, where a degree of viral replication is tolerated to minimize immunopathology. Persistent antigen exposure during chronic viral infection leads to the evolution and divergence of these responses. In this review, we discuss advances in the understanding of mucosal T-cell immunity during chronic viral infections and how features of T-cell responses develop in different chronic viral infections of the mucosa. We consider how insights into T-cell immunity at mucosal surfaces could inform vaccine strategies: not only to protect hosts from chronic viral infections but also to exploit viruses that can persist within mucosal surfaces as vaccine vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed Al-Talib
- Systems Immunity University Research Institute/Division of Infection and Immunity, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, UK
- Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, 5 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1UD, UK
| | - Sandra Dimonte
- Systems Immunity University Research Institute/Division of Infection and Immunity, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Ian R Humphreys
- Systems Immunity University Research Institute/Division of Infection and Immunity, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, UK.
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Kammann T, Gorin JB, Parrot T, Gao Y, Ponzetta A, Emgård J, Maleki KT, Sekine T, Rivera-Ballesteros O, Gredmark-Russ S, Rooyackers O, Skagerberg M, Eriksson LI, Norrby-Teglund A, Mak JY, Fairlie DP, Björkström NK, Klingström J, Ljunggren HG, Aleman S, Buggert M, Strålin K, Sandberg JK. Dynamic MAIT Cell Recovery after Severe COVID-19 Is Transient with Signs of Heterogeneous Functional Anomalies. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2024; 212:389-396. [PMID: 38117799 PMCID: PMC10784727 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2300639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/22/2023]
Abstract
Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are an abundant population of unconventional T cells in humans and play important roles in immune defense against microbial infections. Severe COVID-19 is associated with strong activation of MAIT cells and loss of these cells from circulation. In the present study, we investigated the capacity of MAIT cells to recover after severe COVID-19. In longitudinal paired analysis, MAIT cells initially rebounded numerically and phenotypically in most patients at 4 mo postrelease from the hospital. However, the rebounding MAIT cells displayed signs of persistent activation with elevated expression of CD69, CD38, and HLA-DR. Although MAIT cell function was restored in many patients, a subgroup displayed a predominantly PD-1high functionally impaired MAIT cell pool. This profile was associated with poor expression of IFN-γ and granzyme B in response to IL-12 + L-18 and low levels of polyfunctionality. Unexpectedly, although the overall T cell counts recovered, normalization of the MAIT cell pool failed at 9-mo follow-up, with a clear decline in MAIT cell numbers and a further increase in PD-1 levels. Together, these results indicate an initial transient period of inconsistent recovery of MAIT cells that is not sustained and eventually fails. Persisting MAIT cell impairment in previously hospitalized patients with COVID-19 may have consequences for antimicrobial immunity and inflammation and could potentially contribute to post-COVID-19 health problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias Kammann
- Center for Infectious Medicine, Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jean-Baptiste Gorin
- Center for Infectious Medicine, Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Tiphaine Parrot
- Center for Infectious Medicine, Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Yu Gao
- Center for Infectious Medicine, Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Andrea Ponzetta
- Center for Infectious Medicine, Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Johanna Emgård
- Center for Infectious Medicine, Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Kimia T. Maleki
- Center for Infectious Medicine, Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Takuya Sekine
- Center for Infectious Medicine, Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Olga Rivera-Ballesteros
- Center for Infectious Medicine, Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | | | - Sara Gredmark-Russ
- Center for Infectious Medicine, Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Olav Rooyackers
- Department of Clinical Interventions and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Perioperative Medicine and Intensive Care, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Magdalena Skagerberg
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lars I. Eriksson
- Perioperative Medicine and Intensive Care, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anna Norrby-Teglund
- Center for Infectious Medicine, Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jeffrey Y.W. Mak
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - David P. Fairlie
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Niklas K. Björkström
- Center for Infectious Medicine, Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jonas Klingström
- Center for Infectious Medicine, Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Hans-Gustaf Ljunggren
- Center for Infectious Medicine, Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Soo Aleman
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Dermatology, Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Marcus Buggert
- Center for Infectious Medicine, Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Kristoffer Strålin
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Dermatology, Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Johan K. Sandberg
- Center for Infectious Medicine, Department of Medicine Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
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