Biased MAIT TCR Usage Poised for Limited Antigen Diversity?

Michael N T Souter; Sidonia B G Eckle

doi:10.3389/fimmu.2020.01845

Biased MAIT TCR Usage Poised for Limited Antigen Diversity?

Front Immunol. 2020 Aug 18:11:1845. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.01845. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Michael N T Souter¹, Sidonia B G Eckle¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.

Abstract

Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are a subset of unconventional T cells that recognize the evolutionarily conserved major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I-like antigen-presenting molecule known as MHC class I related protein 1 (MR1). Since their rise from obscurity in the early 1990s, the study of MAIT cells has grown substantially, accelerating our fundamental understanding of these cells and their possible roles in immunity. In the context of recent advances, we review here the relationship between MR1, antigen, and TCR usage among MAIT and other MR1-reactive T cells and provide a speculative discussion.

Keywords: MAIT cells; MR1; T cell subsets; TCR repertoire diversity; antigen diversity.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / immunology*
Humans
Lymphocyte Activation / immunology
Minor Histocompatibility Antigens / immunology*
Mucosal-Associated Invariant T Cells / immunology*
Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / immunology*

Substances

Histocompatibility Antigens Class I
MR1 protein, human
Minor Histocompatibility Antigens
Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell