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MAIT cells: an historical and evolutionary perspective
Author(s) -
Lantz Olivier,
Legoux François
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
immunology and cell biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.999
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1440-1711
pISSN - 0818-9641
DOI - 10.1111/imcb.1034
Subject(s) - biology , t cell receptor , effector , phenotype , natural killer t cell , cd1 , microbiology and biotechnology , t cell , genetics , gene , immune system
In humans, MAIT cells represent the most abundant T‐cell subset reacting against bacteria. MAIT cells belong to the evolutionarily conserved family of “preset” T cells that includes also NKT cells. Both subsets are selected by double positive thymocytes leading to common features such as PLZF expression. Preset T cells correspond to subsets prepositioned in specific tissue locations with preprogrammed versatile effector functions such as antimicrobial functions and possibly also metabolic control and tissue repair activity. Herein, we recall how several groups studying human samples discovered MAIT cells as T cells expressing either a restricted T‐cell receptors ( TCR ) repertoire or homogeneous and singular phenotypic and functional characteristics. We then highlight the main evolutionary features of this subset and its restricting element, MR 1 ( MHC ‐related protein (1) with a striking coevolution of TRAV 1 and MR 1. We introduce another evolutionarily conserved invariant TCR alpha chain coevolving with another MHC class Ib molecule, called MHX , sharing phylogenetic features with MR 1. We finally discuss the relationship between MAIT cells and other subsets reacting to microbial antigens or to compounds presented by MR 1 in light of confounding experimental issues.