Open AccessCirculating mucosal‐associated invariant T cells in subjects with recurrent urinary tract infections are functionally impaired
Author(s) -
Terpstra Matty L.,
Remmerswaal Ester B. M.,
Aalderen Michiel C.,
Wever Joyce J.,
Sinnige Marjan J.,
BomBaylon Nelly D.,
Bemelman Frederike J.,
Geerlings Suzanne E.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
immunity, inflammation and disease
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.918
H-Index - 18
ISSN - 2050-4527
DOI - 10.1002/iid3.287
Subject(s) - urinary system , pathogenesis , flow cytometry , immunology , biology , escherichia coli , antigen , degranulation , cytokine , microbiology and biotechnology , medicine , endocrinology , gene , biochemistry , receptor
Background Urinary tract infection recurrence is common, particularly in women and immunocompromised patients, such as renal transplant recipients (RTRs). Mucosal‐associated invariant T (MAIT) cells play a role in the antibacterial response by recognizing bacterial riboflavin metabolites produced by bacteria such as Escherichia coli . Here, we investigated whether MAIT cells are involved in the pathogenesis of recurrent urinary tract infections (RUTIs). Methods Using multichannel flow cytometry, we characterized the MAIT cell phenotype and function in blood from immunocompetent adults with (n = 13) and without RUTIs (n = 10) and in RTRs with (n = 9) and without RUTIs (n = 10). Results There were no differences in the numbers of MAIT cells between the study groups. MAIT cells in patients with RUTI expressed T‐bet more often than those in controls. MAIT cells from immunocompetent RUTI participants required more antigen‐presenting cells coincubated with E. coli to evoke a similar cytokine and degranulation response than those from controls. This effect was absent in the RTR with RUTI vs RTR control groups, where the overall percentage of MAIT cells that responded to stimulation was already reduced. Conclusion Circulating MAIT cells in immunocompetent individuals with RUTIs respond to bacterial stimuli with reduced efficacy, which suggests that they are involved in the pathogenesis of RUTIs.