The frequency and dynamics of CD4+ mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells in active pulmonary tuberculosis

Kunlong Xiong; Wenwen Sun; Hongxiu Wang; Jianping Xie; Bo Su; Lin Fan

doi:10.1016/j.cellimm.2021.104381

The frequency and dynamics of CD4⁺ mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells in active pulmonary tuberculosis

Cell Immunol. 2021 Jul:365:104381. doi: 10.1016/j.cellimm.2021.104381. Epub 2021 May 20.

Authors

Kunlong Xiong¹, Wenwen Sun¹, Hongxiu Wang¹, Jianping Xie², Bo Su³, Lin Fan⁴

Affiliations

¹ Shanghai Clinical Research Center for Tuberculosis, Shanghai Key Lab of Tuberculosis, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
² Institute of Modern Biopharmaceuticals, State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Eco-Environment and Bio-Resource of the Three Gorges Area, Key Laboratory of Eco-environments in Three Gorges Reservoir Region, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China. Electronic address: georgex@swu.edu.cn.
³ Lab Center, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: su_bo_s@hotmail.com.
⁴ Shanghai Clinical Research Center for Tuberculosis, Shanghai Key Lab of Tuberculosis, Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: fanlinsj@163.com.

PMID: 34049011
DOI: 10.1016/j.cellimm.2021.104381

Abstract

MAIT cells are unconventional innate-like T lymphocytes contributing to host immune protection against Mycobacteria tuberculosis (Mtb) infection. CD4^- MAIT cells play a major role in immune protection against tuberculosis (TB), however, the role of CD4⁺ MAIT cells was elusive due to their low abundance. We firstly investigated the frequency and functions of CD4⁺ MAIT cells in pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) patients before and after anti-TB treatment. We found that the frequency of Mtb-reactive CD4⁺ MAIT cells and IFN-γ, granzyme B (GrzB), CD69 expression on them were increased while LAG-3⁺ cells of them were decreased in PTB patients. After the treatment, the frequency of Mtb-reactive CD4⁺ MAIT cells and CD69, IFN-γ, GrzB expression on them were decreased while LAG-3 increased. The results indicated the expression profile is distinct between CD4⁺ MAIT cells and CD4^- MAIT cells in PTB patients, the increased IFN-γ and GrzB expression of CD4⁺ MAIT cells play a role in anti-TB immunity.

Keywords: CD4; CD69; Granzyme B; IFN-γ; LAG-3; MAIT cells; Tuberculosis.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adult
CD4 Antigens / metabolism
Female
Granzymes / metabolism
Humans
Interferon-gamma / metabolism
Lung / immunology*
Lymphocyte Activation
Male
Middle Aged
Mucosal-Associated Invariant T Cells / immunology*
Mycobacterium tuberculosis / immunology*
Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / immunology*
Young Adult

Substances

CD4 Antigens
Interferon-gamma
Granzymes