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Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells have been attracting increasing attention over the last few years as a potent unconventional T cell subset. Three factors largely account for this emerging interest. Firstly, these cells are abundant in humans, both in circulation and especially in some tissues such as the liver. Secondly is the discovery of a ligand that has uncovered their microbial targets, and also allowed for the development of tools to accurately track the cells in both humans and mice. Finally, it appears that the cells not only have a diverse range of functions but also are sensitive to a range of inflammatory triggers that can enhance or even bypass T cell receptor-mediated signals-substantially broadening their likely impact in health and disease. In this review we discuss how MAIT cells display antimicrobial, homeostatic, and amplifier roles in vivo, and how this may lead to protection and potentially pathology.

Original publication

DOI

10.1146/annurev-immunol-080719-015428

Type

Journal article

Journal

Annual review of immunology

Publication Date

04/2020

Volume

38

Pages

203 - 228

Addresses

Translational Gastroenterology Unit, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Headington, Oxford OX3 9DU, United Kingdom; email: paul.klenerman@ndm.ox.ac.uk.

Keywords

Mucous Membrane, T-Lymphocyte Subsets, Animals, Humans, Disease Susceptibility, Signal Transduction, Immunity, Mucosal, Homeostasis, Host-Pathogen Interactions, Biomarkers, Mucosal-Associated Invariant T Cells