Microbiology & Immunology - Research Publications
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ItemAntigen-loaded MR1 tetramers define T cell receptor heterogeneity in mucosal-associated invariant T cells(ROCKEFELLER UNIV PRESS, 2013-10-21)Mucosal-associated invariant T cells (MAIT cells) express a semi-invariant T cell receptor (TCR) α-chain, TRAV1-2-TRAJ33, and are activated by vitamin B metabolites bound by the major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-related class I-like molecule, MR1. Understanding MAIT cell biology has been restrained by the lack of reagents to specifically identify and characterize these cells. Furthermore, the use of surrogate markers may misrepresent the MAIT cell population. We show that modified human MR1 tetramers loaded with the potent MAIT cell ligand, reduced 6-hydroxymethyl-8-D-ribityllumazine (rRL-6-CH₂OH), specifically detect all human MAIT cells. Tetramer(+) MAIT subsets were predominantly CD8(+) or CD4(-)CD8(-), although a small subset of CD4(+) MAIT cells was also detected. Notably, most human CD8(+) MAIT cells were CD8α(+)CD8β(-/lo), implying predominant expression of CD8αα homodimers. Tetramer-sorted MAIT cells displayed a T(H)1 cytokine phenotype upon antigen-specific activation. Similarly, mouse MR1-rRL-6-CH₂OH tetramers detected CD4(+), CD4(-)CD8(-) and CD8(+) MAIT cells in Vα19 transgenic mice. Both human and mouse MAIT cells expressed a broad TCR-β repertoire, and although the majority of human MAIT cells expressed TRAV1-2-TRAJ33, some expressed TRAJ12 or TRAJ20 genes in conjunction with TRAV1-2. Accordingly, MR1 tetramers allow precise phenotypic characterization of human and mouse MAIT cells and revealed unanticipated TCR heterogeneity in this population.
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ItemAtypical natural killer T-cell receptor recognition of CD1d-lipid antigens(NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP, 2016-02)Crucial to Natural Killer T (NKT) cell function is the interaction between their T-cell receptor (TCR) and CD1d-antigen complex. However, the diversity of the NKT cell repertoire and the ensuing interactions with CD1d-antigen remain unclear. We describe an atypical population of CD1d-α-galactosylceramide (α-GalCer)-reactive human NKT cells that differ markedly from the prototypical TRAV10-TRAJ18-TRBV25-1(+) type I NKT cell repertoire. These cells express a range of TCR α- and β-chains that show differential recognition of glycolipid antigens. Two atypical NKT TCRs (TRAV21-TRAJ8-TRBV7-8 and TRAV12-3-TRAJ27-TRBV6-5) bind orthogonally over the A'-pocket of CD1d, adopting distinct docking modes that contrast with the docking mode of all type I NKT TCR-CD1d-antigen complexes. Moreover, the interactions with α-GalCer differ between the type I and these atypical NKT TCRs. Accordingly, diverse NKT TCR repertoire usage manifests in varied docking strategies and specificities towards CD1d-α-GalCer and related antigens, thus providing far greater scope for diverse glycolipid antigen recognition.
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ItemHuman blood MAIT cell subsets defined using MR1 tetramers(WILEY, 2018-05)Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells represent up to 10% of circulating human T cells. They are usually defined using combinations of non-lineage-specific (surrogate) markers such as anti-TRAV1-2, CD161, IL-18Rα and CD26. The development of MR1-Ag tetramers now permits the specific identification of MAIT cells based on T-cell receptor specificity. Here, we compare these approaches for identifying MAIT cells and show that surrogate markers are not always accurate in identifying these cells, particularly the CD4+ fraction. Moreover, while all MAIT cell subsets produced comparable levels of IFNγ, TNF and IL-17A, the CD4+ population produced more IL-2 than the other subsets. In a human ontogeny study, we show that the frequencies of most MR1 tetramer+ MAIT cells, with the exception of CD4+ MAIT cells, increased from birth to about 25 years of age and declined thereafter. We also demonstrate a positive association between the frequency of MAIT cells and other unconventional T cells including Natural Killer T (NKT) cells and Vδ2+ γδ T cells. Accordingly, this study demonstrates that MAIT cells are phenotypically and functionally diverse, that surrogate markers may not reliably identify all of these cells, and that their numbers are regulated in an age-dependent manner and correlate with NKT and Vδ2+ γδ T cells.
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ItemDiverse MR1-restricted T cells in mice and humans.(Nature Research (part of Springer Nature), 2019-05-21)Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells express an invariant TRAV1/TRAJ33 TCR-α chain and are restricted to the MHC-I-like molecule, MR1. Whether MAIT cell development depends on this invariant TCR-α chain is unclear. Here we generate Traj33-deficient mice and show that they are highly depleted of MAIT cells; however, a residual population remains and can respond to exogenous antigen in vitro or pulmonary Legionella challenge in vivo. These residual cells include some that express Trav1+ TCRs with conservative Traj-gene substitutions, and others that express Trav1- TCRs with a broad range of Traj genes. We further report that human TRAV1-2- MR1-restricted T cells contain both MAIT-like and non-MAIT-like cells, as judged by their TCR repertoire, antigen reactivity and phenotypic features. These include a MAIT-like population that expresses a public, canonical TRAV36+ TRBV28+ TCR. Our findings highlight the TCR diversity and the resulting potential impact on antigen recognition by MR1-restricted T cells.
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ItemNo Preview AvailableA three-stage intrathymic development pathway for the mucosal-associated invariant T cell lineage(NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP, 2016-11)Mucosal-associated invariant T cells (MAIT cells) detect microbial vitamin B2 derivatives presented by the antigen-presenting molecule MR1. Here we defined three developmental stages and checkpoints for the MAIT cell lineage in humans and mice. Stage 1 and stage 2 MAIT cells predominated in thymus, while stage 3 cells progressively increased in abundance extrathymically. Transition through each checkpoint was regulated by MR1, whereas the final checkpoint that generated mature functional MAIT cells was controlled by multiple factors, including the transcription factor PLZF and microbial colonization. Furthermore, stage 3 MAIT cell populations were expanded in mice deficient in the antigen-presenting molecule CD1d, suggestive of a niche shared by MAIT cells and natural killer T cells (NKT cells). Accordingly, this study maps the developmental pathway and checkpoints that control the generation of functional MAIT cells.
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ItemEnumeration, functional responses and cytotoxic capacity of MAIT cells in newly diagnosed and relapsed multiple myeloma(NATURE PORTFOLIO, 2018-03-07)Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are T cells that recognise vitamin-B derivative Ag presented by the MHC-related-protein 1 (MR1) antigen-presenting molecule. While MAIT cells are highly abundant in humans, their role in tumour immunity remains unknown. Here we have analysed the frequency and function of MAIT cells in multiple myeloma (MM) patients. We show that MAIT cell frequency in blood is reduced compared to healthy adult donors, but comparable to elderly healthy control donors. Furthermore, there was no evidence that MAIT cells accumulated at the disease site (bone marrow) of these patients. Newly diagnosed MM patient MAIT cells had reduced IFNγ production and CD27 expression, suggesting an exhausted phenotype, although IFNγ-producing capacity is restored in relapsed/refractory patient samples. Moreover, immunomodulatory drugs Lenalidomide and Pomalidomide, indirectly inhibited MAIT cell activation. We further show that cell lines can be pulsed with vitamin-B derivative Ags and that these can be presented via MR1 to MAIT cells in vitro, to induce cytotoxic activity comparable to that of natural killer (NK) cells. Thus, MAIT cells are reduced in MM patients, which may contribute to disease in these individuals, and moreover, MAIT cells may represent new immunotherapeutic targets for treatment of MM and other malignancies.
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ItemCD1d-lipid antigen recognition by the γδ TCR(NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP, 2013-11)The T cell repertoire comprises αβ and γδ T cell lineages. Although it is established how αβ T cell antigen receptors (TCRs) interact with antigen presented by antigen-presenting molecules, this is unknown for γδ TCRs. We describe a population of human Vδ1(+) γδ T cells that exhibit autoreactivity to CD1d and provide a molecular basis for how a γδ TCR binds CD1d-α-galactosylceramide (α-GalCer). The γδ TCR docked orthogonally, over the A' pocket of CD1d, in which the Vδ1-chain, and in particular the germ line-encoded CDR1δ loop, dominated interactions with CD1d. The TCR γ-chain sat peripherally to the interface, with the CDR3γ loop representing the principal determinant for α-GalCer specificity. Accordingly, we provide insight into how a γδ TCR binds specifically to a lipid-loaded antigen-presenting molecule.
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ItemAntigen-loaded MR1 tetramers define T cell receptor heterogeneity in mucosal-associated invariant T cells(Rockefeller University Press, 2013)Mucosal-associated invariant T cells (MAIT cells) express a semi-invariant T cell receptor (TCR) alpha-chain, TRAV1-2-TRAJ33, and are activated by vitamin B metabolites bound by the major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-related class I-like molecule, MR1. Understanding MAIT cell biology has been restrained by the lack of reagents to specifically identify and characterize these cells. Furthermore, the use of surrogate markers may misrepresent the MAIT cell population. We show that modified human MR1 tetramers loaded with the potent MAIT cell ligand, reduced 6-hydroxymethyl-8-D-ribityllumazine (rRL-6-CH2OH), specifically detect all human MAIT cells. Tetramer(+) MAIT subsets were predominantly CD8(+) or CD4(-)CD8(-), although a small subset of CD4(+) MAIT cells was also detected. Notably, most human CD8(+) MAIT cells were CD8 alpha(+)CD8 beta(-/lo), implying predominant expression of CD8 alpha alpha homodimers. Tetramer-sorted MAIT cells displayed a T(H)1 cytokine phenotype upon antigen-specific activation. Similarly, mouse MR1-rRL-6-CH2OH tetramers detected CD4(+), CD4(-)CD8(-) and CD8(+) MAIT cells in V. 19 transgenic mice. Both human and mouse MAIT cells expressed a broad TCR-beta repertoire, and although the majority of human MAIT cells expressed TRAV1-2-TRAJ33, some expressed TRAJ12 or TRAJ20 genes in conjunction with TRAV1-2. Accordingly, MR1 tetramers allow precise phenotypic characterization of human and mouse MAIT cells and revealed unanticipated TCR heterogeneity in this population.