MAIT cells are activated during human viral infections

Bonnie van Wilgenburg (), Iris Scherwitzl, Edward C. Hutchinson, Tianqi Leng, Ayako Kurioka, Corinna Kulicke, Catherine de Lara, Suzanne Cole, Sirijitt Vasanawathana, Wannee Limpitikul, Prida Malasit, Duncan Young, Laura Denney, Michael D. Moore, Paolo Fabris, Maria Teresa Giordani, Ye Htun Oo, Stephen M. Laidlaw, Lynn B. Dustin, Ling-Pei Ho, Fiona M. Thompson, Narayan Ramamurthy, Juthathip Mongkolsapaya (), Christian B. Willberg, Gavin R. Screaton and Paul Klenerman ()
Additional contact information
Bonnie van Wilgenburg: Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research and Translational Gastroenterology Unit, University of Oxford
Iris Scherwitzl: Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College
Edward C. Hutchinson: Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, University of Oxford
Tianqi Leng: Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research and Translational Gastroenterology Unit, University of Oxford
Ayako Kurioka: Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research and Translational Gastroenterology Unit, University of Oxford
Corinna Kulicke: Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research and Translational Gastroenterology Unit, University of Oxford
Catherine de Lara: Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research and Translational Gastroenterology Unit, University of Oxford
Suzanne Cole: MRC Human Immunology Unit, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford
Sirijitt Vasanawathana: Khon Kaen Hospital
Wannee Limpitikul: Songkhla Hospital
Prida Malasit: BIOTEC, NSTDA
Duncan Young: The John Radcliffe Hospital
Laura Denney: MRC Human Immunology Unit, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford
Michael D. Moore: Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, University of Oxford
Paolo Fabris: Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Unit, San Bortolo Hospital
Maria Teresa Giordani: Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Unit, San Bortolo Hospital
Ye Htun Oo: Centre for Liver Research & NIHR Biomedical Research Unit in Liver Disease, University of Birmingham
Stephen M. Laidlaw: Rheumatology, and Musculoskeletal Sciences, Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford
Lynn B. Dustin: Rheumatology, and Musculoskeletal Sciences, Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford
Ling-Pei Ho: MRC Human Immunology Unit, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford
Fiona M. Thompson: Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research and Translational Gastroenterology Unit, University of Oxford
Narayan Ramamurthy: Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research and Translational Gastroenterology Unit, University of Oxford
Juthathip Mongkolsapaya: Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College
Christian B. Willberg: Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research and Translational Gastroenterology Unit, University of Oxford
Gavin R. Screaton: Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College
Paul Klenerman: Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research and Translational Gastroenterology Unit, University of Oxford

Nature Communications, 2016, vol. 7, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are abundant in humans and recognize bacterial ligands. Here, we demonstrate that MAIT cells are also activated during human viral infections in vivo. MAIT cells activation was observed during infection with dengue virus, hepatitis C virus and influenza virus. This activation—driving cytokine release and Granzyme B upregulation—is TCR-independent but dependent on IL-18 in synergy with IL-12, IL-15 and/or interferon-α/β. IL-18 levels and MAIT cell activation correlate with disease severity in acute dengue infection. Furthermore, HCV treatment with interferon-α leads to specific MAIT cell activation in vivo in parallel with an enhanced therapeutic response. Moreover, TCR-independent activation of MAIT cells leads to a reduction of HCV replication in vitro mediated by IFN-γ. Together these data demonstrate MAIT cells are activated following viral infections, and suggest a potential role in both host defence and immunopathology.

Date: 2016
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms11653

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