Mucosal-associated invariant T cells have therapeutic potential against ocular autoimmunity

The intracellular pathogen Francisella tularensis escapes from adaptive immunity by metabolic adaptation

“…In contrast, riboflavin precursors presented by monomorphic MR1 lead to MAIT cell activation. Thus, we propose that a metabolite-targeted strategy, rather than traditional protein-targeted approaches, may open a new avenue for vaccine development to protect from infection with pathogenic Francisella to a wider range of patients in addition to therapeutic potential of the strategy against cancers and autoimmune diseases ( Rouxel et al, 2017 ; Crowther et al, 2020 ; Yan et al, 2020 ; Ruf et al, 2021 ; Yamana et al, 2022 ).…”

Functions of mucosal associated invariant T cells in eye diseases

“…MAIT cells were hardly detected in the retina under normal conditions and gradually increased after EAU induction. This finding suggests that MAIT cells migrate from the draining lymph nodes, where preceding MAIT cell expansion was observed ( 19 ). The involvement of TCR-mediated signaling in MAIT cell expansion during EAU induction has not been experimentally proven.…”

“…Another possible protective mechanism could be that IL-22 can suppress MHC class II expression responsible for the development of retinal antigen-specific T cells ( 54 ). MAIT cell frequency in the peripheral blood has been found to be inversely correlated with disease activity in patients with VKH disease, which is representative of autoimmune uveitis with chronic inflammation in the retina ( 19 ). These findings motivated us to explore MAIT cell functions in a mouse model of EAU induced by the retinal antigen IRBP.…”

“…These findings motivated us to explore MAIT cell functions in a mouse model of EAU induced by the retinal antigen IRBP. MAIT cells also secrete IL-22 and contribute to the reduction of EAU clinical symptoms after EAU induction ( 19 ). MAIT cells were hardly detected in the retina under normal conditions and gradually increased after EAU induction.…”

“…This finding was further supported by a study that showed administration of RCAI-56, a Th1-biased NKT cell ligand, to EAU mice had higher therapeutic efficacy than α-GalCer ( 18 ). More recently, protective effects against EAU have been observed upon activation of MAIT cells with the authentic antigen, 5-(2-oxopropylideneamino)-6-D-ribitylaminouracil (5-OP-RU) by IL-22 secretion ( 19 ). This data suggest that the inflammatory responses triggered by retinal antigen-specific T cells during EAU induction are counteracted not only by Treg cells but also by other T-cell subsets including NKT and MAIT cells.…”